Heart patient's plea launches 'Gift of Life' message (From Swindon Advertiser)

Heart patient's plea launches 'Gift of Life' message

9:00am Thursday 13th March 2008

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WITH just one phone call you could save somebody's life - that is the message from Ron Carter, who has been on the heart transplant list for eight months.

Ron, 59, of Helmsdale, Haydon Wick, realises he may have a long wait for a heart.

"To actually save someone's life and give them a chance - I would think that is a great feeling," said the grandfather of two.

"I used to get a great feeling when I gave blood because they said that could save someone's life.

Ron was himself a registered donor for 10 years, but never believed he would need a transplant, being a fit non-smoker.

"People do not give it a thought when they are younger - you do not think about things like that. You think you're invincible."

Four years ago Ron was referred to consultants after feeling out of breath.

It transpired Ron's heart had an irregular rhythm.

Despite treatment, which included stopping and restarting his heart twice, doctors failed to correct this and his heart was so enlarged it could never function normally.

So he was placed on the waiting list for a heart transplant.

Doctors told Ron his heart would only last another two years.

But Ron's height and blood group are making it difficult to get a match. Ron and wife Jenny are on constant stand-by.

They cannot go abroad and whatever they do is carefully planned to accommodate Ron's condition. There is also the emotional strain on Ron and his family.

Ron said: "People say have a nice Christmas and I hope you get a new heart.

"They don't realise that for that to happen somebody somewhere is going to die over Christmas."

Ron says Papworth Hospital in Cambridge told him about the number of times grieving relatives have changed their minds about refusing to donate when it is too late to use the organs.

This could all be avoided by placing yourself on the register. Ron also favours the Government's proposal to have an automatic donor register for everyone that people can opt out of.

"Your organs are no use to you after you're dead so why not let someone else have them?"

To become a registered donor call 24 line 0845 6060 400 or look on the website www.uktransplant.org.uk.

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