Talking about organ donation could be the first step towards saving a life, said the family of Fife’s Daniel Cornet.
Three-year-old Daniel is awaiting a live kidney transplant which could put an end to daily 10-hour dialysis sessions which he has had to endure since he was a baby.
His family are getting behind NHS Blood and Transplant’s Let’s Talk About It campaign encouraging people to let close relatives know about their intention to donate after death.
Daniel’s mum Louise Paton, of Cairneyhill, said: “Talking about organ donation makes it easier for families to decide to donate a relative’s organs.
“Please have that conversation today. Sign up on the NHS organ donor register and then speak up about your wishes with your relatives.”
Daniel, who was named Child of Achievement in Kingdom FM’s recent Local Hero Awards, is an ambassador for the Live Life Give Life charity.
The charity is highlighting the Let’s Talk About It campaign during Organ Donation Week which runs from September 4 to 10.
Louise, 37, said: “Daniel is three years old. He was born with end stage renal failure.
“Despite the best efforts of his doctors to help him sustain what little kidney function he had, at 10 months old his body could no longer cope and he started dialysis.
“Kidney disease affects everything. Because of this he also has bone disease and is fed via a tube. This would all change with a transplant which would enable him to be a little boy and enjoy his childhood.
“That’s why we, as a family, are backing organ donation. The difference it makes to people’s lives is indescribable.”
There are now more than 50,000 people alive today who have survived thanks to the kindness of those who have donated organs after their deaths.
But every day across the UK around three people who could have benefited from a transplant die because there are not enough organ donors.
There are currently around 6,400 people on the transplant waiting list.
Live Life Give Life trustee Sarah Jones said: “While most people support organ donation, many people don’t realise that their family’s support is needed for organ donation to go ahead.
“If you want to save lives, a few words can make an extraordinary difference.
“By taking just a few minutes to sign up, you could save up to nine lives after you’ve gone.”
For more information visit livelifegivelife.org.uk.
