A life-saving conversation

The Scottish government is campaigning for more to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Scotland may have the highest percentage of people on the list — in fact, deceased donation rates have increased by over 74 per cent since 2008, compared to a UK-wide increase of 50%.

However, there are still 600 people in Scotland on the list — and every day, three people die in the UK while waiting on a transplant.

The campaign message is that by saying seven little words — ‘I’d like to be an organ donor’ — to your loved ones, you could be saving up to seven people’s lives.

Newton Mearns man Russell Macmillan has regularly appeared in The Extra since founding the odd-jobs charity East Renfrewshire Good Causes — but he assures readers that none of it would have been possible without a life-saving double transplant in 2007.

Russell (49) received kidney and pancreas transplants after living with type 1 diabetes for over 30 years — just a year after being put on the transplant list.

He told The Extra: “As soon as I got the call, my wife and I drove straight to Edinburgh. Waiting to find out if the organs were suitable was agonising. To our relief, the organs were a good match and the operation went ahead that evening.

“I’m so grateful to my donor. I’m acutely aware that my fortune is entirely down to another family’s misfortune. I was given a second chance at life thanks to the generosity of a total stranger.

“By telling my story I hope to encourage others to get talking about organ donation. It’s so important to discuss the matter with a loved one and to make your feelings known.”

To find out more about registering, or bringing the subject up with your family, visit www.organdonationscotland.org.