ONE of Scotland’s youngest patients waiting for a lifesaving transplant Morgan MacIntyre, whose champion cyclist dad became an organ donor when he died, has spoken of her hopes for the gift of life in 2016.
The 16-year-old is backing a festive campaign to encourage more people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register in a bid to help the 560 people in Scotland who are currently on the waiting list.
Morgan, from Fort William was born with renal hypoplasia, a condition which led to her undergoing a kidney transplant aged just five.
She now needs another transplant which will make her one of the youngest people in Scotland to be waiting.
Morgan’s dad Jason was 34 when he became a donor in 2008 after he died in a road accident as he trained for the Olympics and his corneas gave two people their sight back.
From birth, she has endured dialysis as her kidneys didn’t develop properly due to being born seven weeks premature.
Her first transplanted kidney, which came from her grandparent, rejected in 2007.
As no other family member is a match, Morgan’s only hope is a kidney from a deceased donor and the teen, who turns 17 in January 2016, is preparing to go back on dialysis after managing for over a decade without it.
Less than one per cent of deaths in Scotland occur in circumstances where the person is able to donate their organs, so the more people that register, the more likely it is that someone will be able to get the life-changing transplant they need.
Morgan, who also had to deal with the loss of her sight, coped well without dialysis following the rejection of her kidney, however she is now retaining fluids, is constantly lethargic and is finding eating difficult.
Morgan, who is in fifth year at Lochaber High School and is planning a career in childcare, said: “Things are becoming more difficult but I’m pragmatic and know what’s ahead.
“I can’t really remember dialysis as I was so young, but know that’s what I’m facing until a suitable donor is found. My hope is that the wait isn’t long.
“There’s lots I want to do in life and getting the transplant would turn everything around for me.”
Mum Caroline described her daughter as a “fighter” and said a new kidney would be the greatest gift of all. She added: “Morgan has endured a lot, but the thought of her being on the transplant list is difficult as she will face dialysis again if she has a long wait.
“If she goes back on dialysis she’ll need a fistula which she’s dreading. It’s not a pleasant thought, but she knows that it’s the only thing that will keep her alive.
“I understand fully where the people who are apprehensive about organ donation are coming from because I’ve been in that position.
“We weren’t able to donate all of my husband’s organs because he was killed instantly, but his corneas gave sight to two people. It’s something I take huge comfort from. It was such a painful time but looking back on that decision makes me so proud of him. Knowing someone has to go through what I felt losing Jason is awful, but someone out there could give hope to my Morgan. It really is the greatest gift and I know the care she’d take of the gift she’d receive as she has her whole life ahead of her.”
Minister for Public Health Maureen Watt said “everyone has it in them” to save a life this Christmas. She added: “The MacIntyre family have experienced every aspect of organ donation, from live donation, to deciding to donate a loved one’s organs, to now facing a wait for a life-changing gift from a stranger.
“I’d like to thank the family for supporting our festive campaign, as Morgan’s story highlights how important it is for people in Scotland to join the NHS Organ Donor Register. The more people that register, the more lives that can be saved.
“I’d encourage anyone not already on the register to join and make this December count.”
In Scotland, 42 per cent of the population are currently on the NHS Organ Donor Register and last December alone 3,937 Scots signed up.
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