The Gift of Life, Holly Shaw — Battlefront. You're Already Involved

ABOUT

The Gift of Life

Holly Shaw

Did you know that 1000 people die every year because of the shortage of organ donors in the UK?

My campaign

My campaign will raise awareness of organ donation and encourage more people to think, talk and do something about it. By educating people, and clearing up common misconceptions about Organ Donation, I hope to get more people to sign up to the Organ Donor Register and potentially save and transform the lives of others like myself.

In 2005 I went on the kidney transplant waiting list after a sudden illness caused kidney failure. I was kept alive by a dialysis machine which I was attached to 3 times each week, and was put on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. For many others on the waiting list dialysis isn’t an option – for them an organ transplant is a matter of life and death. Waiting was tough! However I have been lucky and recently received my gift of life, but for others this is not always the case as there is still a major shortage of Organ Donors in the UK.

I am determined to keep campaigning and fighting for the people still waiting on the transplant list.

My Campaign highlights

- Getting words of support from Gordon Brown on the number 10 website, here: http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page18965
- My campaign being the second most retweeted tweet in the world on April 7th!
- Putting on my Donor Day and getting thousands of sign-ups to the NHS Organ Donor Register
- Working with Oli Barrett and Amy MacClaren – my inspirational mentors!
- Appearing on GMTV

How can you help?

- Get in touch if you are affected by Organ Donation and Transplantation and want to join the campaign
- Sign up to the organ donor register by clicking on the image below
- Watch the video I've made that shows the big difference organ donation can make in someone's life by clicking here
- JOIN MY FACEBOOK GROUP

SHOW YOUR SUPORT

YOUR COMMENTS

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Thanks for your support Ernesto, So glad to hear things are going well for you post transplant. I too think of my Donor and their family everyday, they will always hold a special place in my heart and I will be eternally grateful.

Holly Shaw, 04 May 2009 00:08

Hi Holly. Keep up the good work. Everyone is entitled to their opinion even when when they are ill informed or fail to get their facts correct!!! I recieved my heart transplant 10 years ago when I was at deaths door.So my daughter has had a father my wife a husband and my mother a son for 10 years longer. The quality of my life has been amazing. Each day I think of my donor and his family and their selfless act in giving THE GIFT OF LIFE.

Ernesto, 03 May 2009 23:20

I don't think Holly is deceiving anyone here. She is well aware of all the pitfalls of transplantation but is determined to help others less fortunate than herself. Although Kate stated some of the facts about live donation, people who need other types of transplants simply do not have that option. It isn't always possible for one reason or another when you need a new kidney either. I think to criticise Holly's family is out of order and a shame that any comment has to descend to this attack. Finally I want to make a point about this being a happy ending-it is because the other possibilities are unthinkable. But they are possibilities many people young and old live with every day. It may only be a happy ending for now, but everyone who undergoes transplantation knows this but the precious time it gives them makes it worth while.

Michelle, 03 May 2009 22:10

Thanks for your comments! Neither I nor anyone else who has posted comments meant to duplicate them, it is a fault with the website and I have reported it. I am not upset about the comments directed at me, more the comments at my family. I am willing to take criticism myself and about the campaign and do not intend to start an argument over it, I think I replied in an appropriate manner and do not regret what I said. I know only too well that transplants don't last forever and so intend to make the most of it while it lasts, but I don't want to dwell on the thought that it might not last for many years to come, I will cross that bridge when I come to it. Thanks again.

Holly Shaw, 03 May 2009 22:00

Is it really necessary to post your comments 5 or 6 times? I've reported the duplicates to the moderator. Now I agree with some of what holly and other have said but not all. Facts, 1, transplant is not a clue 2, a live transplant is not 100% guaranteed to be better or last longer than a cadavaric transplant 3, I know of someone who had a cadavaric transplant that lasted over 30 years 4, I know of people who have had live transplant that have never started working. Holly It's great you are happy but to say it is a happy ending is not strictly true. Yes it is the end of that portion of your life but really what you mean is that is the start of the next stage of your life post transplant and can only hope it lasts. You could be on dialysis in 10 years or 10 moonths but anytime of dialysis is better than never getting a transplant.

Simon, 03 May 2009 21:13

Kate Do you realise how offensive and untrue your comments are? People involved in the transplant community are working to promote organ and tissue donation for the good of others spending hours of their free time doing so. I personally know of kidney recipients who have had their kidney for over thirty years. Have you given any thought to the families of those people who have died and donated and how your comments will upset them. You are entitled to your opinions but they are ill-formed and sharing on this forum has only caused distress to many. Pauline

Pauline, 03 May 2009 20:45

Kate, your comment is both hurtful and ill-informed. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but direct criticism of a family whose circumstances you have absolutely no personal experience off is well beyond the pale. Everyone who receives a transplant knows the risks involved - not just the huge risks of the procedures themselves but also the potential post-op hazards of which, as you rightly point out, there are many. Does that mean that I should have been happy with my lot and faded away to a slow and painful death over Christmas 2007 rather than accept the double-lung transplant that has enabled me to do all the things I've always wanted to do but never been well enough for? Every day I'm alive is a better day than any of those in the 3 years immediately prior to my transplant. Yes, there are problems, but it doesn't change the fact that transplants both save and utterly transform lives.

Oli, 03 May 2009 18:46

Hi Holly, just been reading through some comments and i believe that people like Kate are sent to test us, and you are carrying out this wonderful campaign..with may i add tremendous success and i am so proud of you. Unfortunately when someone succeeds and makes a difference it can be rather intimidating for some and the only way that they can confront this feeling is by reacting negatively, not saying this is the reason for this comment...possibly boredom or maybe they are just having a bad day i don't know. I suppose you have to take on these views, and i think its a good challenge to face negative and positive views...so i believe it is good for people to be controversial as it will only make your campaign stronger. However i do not believe it is appropriate to bring in negative points about family members with background information that they are unaware of and have no say in whatsoever. Keep up the good work hol! Love ya xxxxxxx

C, 03 May 2009 18:32

Hi Holly, just a reminder that you are doing an excellent job of saving and improving peoples lives. Unfortunately there are a lot of haters out there who don't appreciate that it may be their life (or the life of someone they love) who you save with this campaign. To Kate - people who make the active choice to sign up for the donor register MAY CONSIDER becoming a living donor, if they feel strongly about saving lives and know the facts about the process. It was a reasonable assumption, the dictionary definition of CONSIDER does not include definitely!! con·sid·er (v.) con·sid·ered, con·sid·er·ing, con·sid·ers (v.tr.) 1. To think carefully about. 2. To think or deem to be; regard as. 3. To form an opinion about; judge: considers waste to be criminal. 4. To take into account; bear in mind: Her success is not surprising if you consider her excellent training. 5. To show consideration for: failed to consider the feelings of others. 6. To esteem; regard. 7. To look at thoughtfully. (v.intr.) To think carefully; reflect: Give me time to consider. I apologise for the rant Laura

PenDraggon, 03 May 2009 18:02

Kate, I have a four year old boy who had intestinal failure and whose life was under constant threat from nasty infections due to the bacteria leaking from his intestines into his blood stream. He would have died by now had he not had his gift of life in November. He is on his 'cancer causing immunosupression with many problems of its own' but I am sitting here watching him alive and playing in a way he never could before. Every minute he plays and enjoys life is a happy ending so, even if the unthinkable happened and his transplant did not take him into adulthood, we would have had 1000s and 1000s of happy endings to cherish! That is the truth about organ donation!!

Sarah Milne, 03 May 2009 18:01

Hi Kate, this is my campaign and you can criticise me all you like. It is below the belt to start bringing my family into it. They support me in everything I do and as I said in my previous comment, they all offered to get tested, my parents couldn't donate for medical reasons. I wouldn't have been able to cope without their support so if you have anything else negative to say do not direct it at them, do so at me! Thanks

Holly Shaw, 03 May 2009 17:38

Kate.Get A LIFE. 10 years free of dialysis is worth it. Where do heart transplants come from? Certainly not from live donors. Holly is not deceiving anybody she is just trying to get people to sign up to the organ donor register. Chances are people who sign up to the register will will also consider becoming a live donor.

Ernesto, 03 May 2009 16:48

Just in reply to the comment below, to Kate: I have had my cadaveric kidney for 17 years and even though it is coming to an end I have a beautiful daughter who is only here because of my wonderful donor and their family. I also have a friend who was given a living donor kidney from her brother, and hers lasted 3 years before giving up the ghost. 'Kate' obviously has never been in the position to ever have to watch your mum or brother or sister risking their lives for you.. for she would know that it is one of the hardest things for someone needing a kidney transplant to do, never mind to even ask in the first place. Everyone who has a transplant (both living and cadaveric) knows that the organ will stop working eventually. But then we might also get hit by a bus tomorrow. I am now facing the prospect of dialysis as my kidney is coming to an end. But I don't care as I have enjoyed every single precious minute my new kidney has given me, especially my beautiful healthy happy daughter

Julia, 03 May 2009 16:38

hi holly, thanks so much for your inspirational site. i have just started haemo dialysis at the royal shrewsbury hospital. i have polycystic kidney disease. have seen very little evidence of the promotion of siging up to the doner register at the hospital and am desperate to try and help promote something. will be following your site from now on with intrest good luck and good health!

sue ethelston, 23 April 2009 10:17

Part of my Cystic Fibrosis is that I have a very big distended tummy. But its not because I'm fat, its because my digestive system doesn't work properly. Sometimes its difficult for people who don't know much about our health problems to understand what they involve. Holly you are beautiful, inspirational, kind, caring, loving and wonderful. All those around you know how much you value your gift of life and how you will do for ever more. Stay strong babes, and thanks for all you are doing xxx

Emma Harris, 18 April 2009 13:29

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