Dad's transplant plea to the PM

THE father of an Exmouth mum of three awaiting a double lung transplant has written to the Prime Minister in the hope of changing the law so the organ donor scheme becomes opt-out rather than opt-in.

Steve Gazzard said the current opt-in scheme means there is a "dreadful waste" of organs, with people such as his daughter facing an early death unnecessarily because there aren't enough people opting in to the scheme.

Mr Gazzard's daughter, Sarah Wright has advanced lung disease. The 37-year-old, who has three children aged five, seven, and ten, will not make it to 40 if she does not receive a double lung transplant.

Sarah has been in hospital since Wednesday, October 3, having taken a turn for the worse.

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"People like my daughter haven't got the time to wait for politicians to decide whether to change the law," said Mr Gazzard. "I've written to the Prime Minister as a father to a father and I hope he'll understand what I want to achieve. At the moment there is a tragic waste of available organs. It may not be in time to change things to do anything for Sarah, but it will massively affect other people's chance of survival.

"We're not giving people the opportunity to live a full life and grow up with their families."

Tragically, Mr Gazzard lost his son Sean several years ago. Sean was 26 when he died from mouth cancer. He said he can't contemplate losing another child.

"I fully understand that people will have objections, but this is taken into account as people would be able to opt out," said Mr Gazzard.

"The vast majority of people support organ donation but don't fill in the form, but it is likely that people will make the effort to opt out if they feel strongly against it.

"The children have been amazing and Harry has had to grow up overnight. He's been like a nurse to his mum the way he's looked after her.

"I can't contemplate what losing their mum will mean to them."

To register as an organ donor visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk/ukt or phone 0300 123 2323.