Knowing his organs saved 5 lives was a huge comfort WIDOW BACKING NEW DONOR LAW

AWOMAN who donated her husband’s organs, saving five people’s lives, has welcomed a new law allowing people to “opt out” of the register in Wales.

There are currently 220 people on the transplant waiting list in Wales, but only a third of the population are on the NHS organ donor register

V adverts will hit our screens from today as the Welsh Government starts the next stage of their awareness campaign for the revolutionary change coming into force on December 1.

Wales will become the first part of the UK to introduce an “opt-out” system in a bid to increase the number of organs and save lives, with residents presumed to have given consent for their organs to be donated after death if they don’t opt out.

Glenys Price, from Deganwy, chose to donate her husband Harry’s organs when he died suddenly from a brain haemorrhage three years ago.

The husband and wife both signed the Organ Donor Register in the 1980s after a friend was killed in a motoring accident and Harry had spoken to her of his wishes to donate.

Mrs Price, 71, said donating his organs was her first question after the consultant broke the devastating news of her husband’s death, and helping others has helped her through her grief.

She said: “Five lives were saved through the donation of Harry’s organs, and the person who received his liver was able to give their daughter away at her wedding. Amongst the sadness and grief I was going through, knowing this was of huge comfort to me.

“As I’m sure many people have also encountered, losing a loved one is such a difficult experience to go through, but I can honestly say that knowing that your loved ones’ life is giving life to other people makes things slightly more bearable.”

Since her husband’s death Mrs Price has been an active supporter of organ donation and received an Order of St John Award on his behalf, honouring the gift of life his donation had given.

She said: “I think the change to the law from an opt-in to an opt-out system is excellent. I feel very strongly that it will make more people aware and hopefully increase the number.of people who could potentially be organ donors.”

In North Wales seven out of 10 people are in favour of the changes, with almost half saying they have discussed their wishes with a family member, according to latest Welsh Government polls.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Last year 12 people in Wales died while waiting for a transplant. We can’t allow this to continue, which is why we have taken action and become the first nation in the UK to pass this unique law.

“We hope this will help save lives. It’s great to see awareness of the organ donation law change is increasing. As we move into the next phase of the public awareness campaign, we hope people will continue talking to their loved ones about their organ donation choices.”

Visit organdonationwales.org for more information.