New organ donor law is real game-changer
A Wishaw woman who received a transplant three decades after first experiencing kidney problems is urging people to let their loved ones know that they want to give the “gift of life”.
Scotland now has an opt-out system, following a law change last week, meaning that all adults aged 16 years and over will now be considered to be willing to donate their organs and tissue when they die, unless they choose to opt out.
Karen Casey, 53, first experienced kidney issues as a teenager, but it would be 30 years before she received a transplant.
“I was 19 when I had pain in my righthand side,” said Karen. “A visit to my GP resulted in the urologist at my local hospital visiting me in my house, which then led to a battery of tests.
“I had repeatedly had urine infections that had been silently damaging my kidneys.”
After being transferred to Glasgow’s Western Infirmary, Karen was given antibiotics which she was told would keep her kidney healthy for 10 years. It was 2010, a full 26 years later, before she needed dialysis.
“No matter how long you know that dialysis is going to happen, the day it happens is always a shock,” Karen continued.
“I had put it off until I couldn’t put it off any longer. That was my life for the next four years, three times a week. I hated every minute of it.
“Dialysis takes over every part of your life. You are restricted by what you can eat, how much you can drink and you can’t just decide to go on holiday as you need to arrange to get dialysis when you are away.”
A month after starting dialysis Karen was added to the transplant waiting list, but was told she needed to lose weight to qualify for a transplant. Determined, she lost 13 stones over two-and-a-half years.
Karen volunteered at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 and ran in the Queen’s Baton Relay.
It was to be a memorable year for another reason as late one night as she drove home past Wishaw Sports Centre her phone rang.
She recalled: “It was 11.30pm. My first thought was ‘who is calling me at this time of night?’
“My hands-free didn’t work but luckily I was only two streets away from home. When I got back, I looked at my phone and saw it was the Glasgow Health Board’s number. At 11.45pm they called back, and it was the call I had been waiting for.
“They said that they had a kidney waiting for me and I needed to get to the hospital as soon as I could.”
Karen was in theatre within hours and despite a few minor complications the new kidney sprung into action three days later.
“That call changed my life in so many ways,” she said. “My life is so much better now. I was able to attend my brother’s wedding a year after my transplant and I get to spend quality time with my sister.
“I have also been able to compete at the British Transplant Games, and in 2019 I became the first person from North Lanarkshire to represent Great Britain at the World Transplant Games, which is something I’m very proud of.
“I trained and qualified as a counsellor, and I can go on holiday if and when I want to now.
“This has all been made possible thanks to my donor and their family carrying out his wishes.”
In Scotland there are currently more than 400 people in need of a kidney and Karen has welcomed the change in the law.
“I hope many more people are able to benefit from the gift I’ve been given,” she added. “I encourage families to have that talk and please tell your loved ones. Let’s make it be a conversation we all have. Let’s pass on the gift of life so everyone benefits.”
More information about kidney disease can be found at www.kidney.org.uk
To find out more about the law change, visit: organdonationscotland.org