The greatest gift of all...

CHRISTMAS is a time of goodwill - but what do you say to those who have given the ultimate gift?

One Warwickshire woman who received a life-changing gift has shared her story to pay tribute to her organ donor, and encourage others to consider signing up to the organ donor register.

Across Coventry and Warwickshire there are 106 people waiting for an organ donation. Across the UK, that number reaches the thousands, and includes more than 180 children. Organ donation is already in the spotlight in Coventry. Young father Aaron Wilson died in a hit and run earlier this month. His family made the difficult decision to donate his organs - a decision which saved six other lives. His partner Katie Robertson described him as a superhero, and said Aaron would often speak of how he wanted to help other people.

Lisa Ebdon received a liver donation just over a year ago. She spoke to the Telegraph about her donor, and urged people to sign up to the register, and talk about the issue with their families.

Next year, an ‘opt-out’ system will be introduced, meaning that people will be assumed to have consented to their organs being donated unless they’ve stated otherwise - but their family can still have the final say. That’s why it’s still hugely important to make your wishes known to your family, if you decide you would like to donate your organs.

Lisa said she struggles to put into words how she feels about the woman who saved her life. The 46-year-old said she has not yet been able to write to her donor’s family, as so many recipients do.

“It is all anonymous,” she said. “I’ve just not been able to express in words on paper how I feel.

“Thank you just isn’t enough. It doesn’t seem adequate for a gift like that.”

Lisa, from Wellesbourne, although she and he husband have temporarily moved to the United States for work, said she knew of at least two lives her donor had saved her own, and that of a twoyear-old boy who was given part of the same liver Lisa received.

“It is incredible,” she added. “I think of her every day. I don’t think there’s a day goes by when I don’t think of her and her amazing gift.”

Lisa was diagnosed over 12 years ago with Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), an autoimmune condition, when her daughter was 10 weeks old. She had suffered problems throughout her pregnancy, including itchy hands and feet, and initially responded well to medication.

But as time went on, this became less and less effective. Eventually, the decision was taken to put her on the waiting list for a transplant.

“After that, it was like my body just gave up,” she said. “I lost three-and-a-half stone and turned yellow. I saw a photo of myself during that time the other day, and it shocked me. Even my shoulders look shrunken.”

Lisa had a separate phone which only the hospital had a number to - so she knew if she received a call, it was because a donor liver was available.

Happily, she now says she feels “150 per cent better”.

“The NHS were incredible,” she added. “The number of people involved in an operation like that - and they do them around twice a day now. The staff work so hard. When it comes to the crunch the NHS really are outstanding.”