Artist pays tribute to donor after organ transplant saves life
A POPULAR Sheffield artist has paid an emotional tribute to an organ donor following a life-saving operation.
Pete McKee, a well-known painter and cartoonist from Sheffield, was diagnosed with end stage liver disease two years ago.
The condition, more commonly known as cirrhosis, deteriorated to the point where the 51-year-old had to be put on the transplant list.
Mr McKee took to Facebook at 2am on Sunday to inform his fans he was on his way to Leeds Liver Transplant Unit after being told an organ transplant may be possible.
The artist is now recovering in hospital and paid an emotional tribute to his organ donor and their family on Facebook following his life-saving procedure.
He said: “I would like to thank the doctors and nurses in Sheffield, Leeds and my local practice for doing an utterly fantastic job treating and caring for me.
“The NHS and those who work for it should never be taken for granted.
“But I have to reserve a special thanks to the donor and their family and to all those who choose to be on the donor register for making the life giving decision to donate their organs to very grateful recipients.”
Mr McKee, a cartoonist for the sports section of the a sister title of
has been responsible for a number of popular largerthan-life street-art projects including on Broad Lane.
Football features heavily in the artist’s work but he was also commissioned by Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher for a portrait on a 10ft fibreglass guitar and fashion designer Sir Paul Smith.
Mr McKee said his illness was caused by a rare genetic condition and sparked a “massive change” in his lifestyle and perspective, including giving up drinking and a number of diet changes.
Thousands of Mr McKee’s fans have replied to McKee’s Facebook post, wishing the artist a speedy recovery and praising the donor and his their family.
Emma Moss said: “Best of luck for a speedy recovery and lots of love.”
Gillian Myers Price said: “I am so pleased that you have got this chance.
“We lost my lovely brother in law Glynn in February aged 52 with the same disease, he was diagnosed too late unfortunately and things went further.”