The gift of life touches several lives (From Oxford Mail)

The gift of life touches several lives

6:00am Friday 5th February 2010

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IT is fantastic that 20,000 people have signed up to the organ donor register in the two years since the Oxford Mail launched its campaign.

We don’t seek to take any credit because, while we’re happy to help raise the profile of organ donation, it is the 20,000 people themselves who deserve the gratitude.

But the drive is ongoing because there will always be a need.

If you haven’t signed up then consider Allen Newey, now the longest-surviving kidney transplant recipient in Europe.

He was the second person to have a transplant operation at the Churchill Hospital 35 years ago, when he was in his early 30s.

Mr Newey was at that time a father of a five-year-old and a seven-year-old and without that transplant it is unlikely he would have lived to 50.

Just think of how invaluable, not only to Mr Newey but crucially to his children Jason and Tracey, it has been for him to be there as they grew up into adulthood.

And that is all because one donor agreed to give up their kidney.

It is not the gift of life, but the gift of lives.

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