Lifesaving transplant meant everything to father of three

FATHER of three Michael Hanlon owes his life to a heart transplant.

The 6-year-old car sales executive spent nine months waiting for the operation, which took place earlier this year.

Mr Hanlon, from Glasgow, welcomed the new soft opt-out scheme yesterday.

He faced a desperate wait for his new heart as an inpatient at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital – where the national advanced heart failure service is based – in Clydebank, Dunbartonshire.

Mr Hanlon has a genetic condition, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, that led to heart failure.

He said: ‘The transplant meant everything. It was the only cure for what I had and I knew things were getting worse towards the end.

‘As much as I tried to stay positive, it became really difficult, for me and my family. Doctors are really pleased with my progress. I have a long way to go but I feel great.

‘There’s so many people still waiting in Scotland and I want to use what I went through to make people aware of just how important organ donation is. Organ donors are nothing short of heroes.’

Backing the opt-out scheme he added: ‘Once you’re gone, you’re gone. You don’t need your organs but you can give the gift of life to someone else.’

Mr Hanlon campaigned to raise awareness of organ donation during his time on the waiting list, and will continue to do so.

He said: ‘Having been in hospital for nine months waiting for my transplant, and knowing how many other people there are out there who are also waiting for transplants, I want to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation.’