Real lives: the human face of organ donation

The father of a donor tells his story

Charity caseworker Gurpreet 'Gilly' Singh Mundy, from London, saved three lives and restored the sight of two others when he donated his organs after his death in March 2007. Gilly, 36, collapsed after suffering a brain haemorrhage at work. He was rushed to hospital but despite doctors’ best efforts, he died two days later with wife Debbie and his family by his side.

Dad Mota Singh, 68, said Gilly had always wanted to help others: “He was a very caring person and I remember seeing him with a Donor Card even when he was at school. Gilly would have been delighted to know that his wish to donate was fulfilled.”

Gilly donated both of his kidneys and his liver, which were used to help people with life-threatening organ failure. His corneas were also transplanted, helping two patients regain the gift of sight. Mr Singh said that the family had drawn comfort from the knowledge that Gilly had helped others live.

“We received a letter from one of the patients, a 58-year-old man who had received Gilly’s liver, and when we saw it, it gave us such relief to know that, thank God, there is someone living thanks to Gilly. It made us feel more positive and stronger about Gilly’s death, knowing that some good had come from it. We’re very proud of him.”

The family are now determined to help make sure that Gilly’s example inspires yet more people to consider their wishes for organ donation and they are supporting UK Transplant’s ‘Can We Count On You?’ campaign, which encourages black and Asian people to consider donation.

Mr Singh, a former mayor of Leamington Spa, said: “I know that there is a desperate shortage of organ donors, especially from the South Asian community, so I hope more people will follow Gilly’s example. Since his death we have talked about donation with so many people and it’s clear that his example has already prompted many people to consider their wishes for donation. Two very good things have come from his donation – the transplants themselves, but also greater awareness of donation among his family, friends and the wider community. It’s a wonderful legacy.”

Gilly’s legacy will also extend to India, where the Buwan Kothi Trust he founded is helping rural communities in Haryana state build a sustainable future. His family are raising funds for the Trust to build the Gilly Singh Memorial Institute, a school and medical advice centre in the small village Gilly’s family come from, and Mr Singh says the Institute’s work will include promoting organ donation.

The parents of one young recipient tell his story

Nine-year-old Aiden Miles, who became the 100,000th person to be placed on the national transplant waiting list, is now getting back to an even more active life than he enjoyed before his kidneys failed.

The plucky youngster spent 10 hours a day on dialysis for 18 months before he received a kidney transplant in October 2002. Aiden, of Northleach, near Cheltenham, spent three months recovering from the operation but trooped into school with his classmates on 6 January 2003 - almost as if nothing had happened.

The operation, which was carried out at Bristol Children's Hospital, has breathed new life into him, said his parents Gary and Sarah. “Aiden's a different child now,” said Sarah, 35. “Even before his kidneys failed he was never very energetic. He's got more energy. He's eating more and he's out on his skateboard all the time. He's quite blasé about the whole thing. He really has been completely transformed. We have never known him be so active. Gary and I are going to have to work hard to keep up with him.”

Aiden was found to have underdeveloped kidneys after he became very ill in the spring of 2001 and had to begin the nightly ordeal of dialysis at home. He was placed on the transplant waiting list on 19 December 2001, becoming the 100,000th person to be listed, and the wait for a life-giving organ began.

At the moment there are about 5,500 people, of which some 120 are children, on the active waiting list for an organ. With kidneys, unlike other organs, there needs to be a close tissue match as well as blood group, which can lead to delays in transplantation.
Aiden and his parents waited anxiously and eventually received the call that told them a suitable organ had become available. Aiden was rushed to the hospital for final tests and the transplant went ahead.

Sarah said: “The pager went off at half past five in the morning and we rushed straight to the hospital where they had to carry out final blood tests and the transplant went ahead at about 5pm. It was an agonising 12 hours. We needn't have worried quite so much because the operation went fine and less than a day later he was eating his favourite – roast chicken and potatoes. Everyone was gobsmacked at his recovery.”

Aiden stayed in hospital for seven weeks as he showed signs of rejection and doctors had to adjust the levels of special drugs. He went home at weekends and was finally allowed home for good a week before Christmas 2002.

Aiden's kidney was donated by an 18-year-old man who died in a road accident. Gary, 37, a warehouse manager, said: “Our thoughts and our gratitude go to that lad and to his relatives whose decision has led to our son being almost reborn.”

To find out more, visit www.uktransplant.org.uk.