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, my story has a happy ending 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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can't wait to see the program this morning!

Jimmyjimmyjimmyjimmy, 14 May 2009 06:55

Thanks as ever for your supportive comments! It's great to know there are so many people out there who also feel passionate about this cause! I'm really nervous about the airing tomorrow... Can't wait to hear your thoughts on it!

Holly Shaw, 13 May 2009 17:10

Can't wait to see the Battlefront programme on TV this week - YAYAYAY!!! On behalf of all those who will one day need an organ transplant to survive, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart Holly for all you are doing. It would be easy for you to sit back now you've had your life transformed and just enjoy all the freedom and hope you have been given. Instead you are out there working so hard, often to the point of complete exhaustion (not to mention whilst recovering from major surgery and writing a disertation)purely to help other people and to give them a chance. What you are doing gives hope to so many people. THANK YOU. Hugs xxxx

Emma Harris, 12 May 2009 22:52

I second Dans comment - I think we would all like to know what raised Kates interest in organ donation in the first place? A very close friend of mine was on dialysis for five years before receiving a live organ donation (not cadaveric like Kate was talking about, I know), but I still remember and marvel at the third night after her transplant, the first "third night" in five years that she hadn't dialysed. The whole donation was completely worth it then, let alone the "only a decade" that a kidney might last. (And heaven forbid a freak incident occurs and it dares last a moment longer!) Is Kate suggesting she'd rather have a loved one on dialysis for thirty years, instead of 10, maybe more, with a kidney, before returning to dialysis if needs be? In response to the weight gain comment, I've never been so pleased to hear the words "I'm just sooo hungry!" after my friend recieived her transplant. Holly (Shaw) has personally saved lives by getting people on the donor register, and I'd like to know what Kate had achieved by her early 20s! Keep it up Holly, you and your campaign mean so, so much to people.

Pookie , 12 May 2009 13:44

Sorrry Holly but you're not normal..you're amazing. I just had a look at your blog. I'd actually forgot how bad things were for you at times but you were always battling through it, on your blog it's like 'worked all day then had dialysis'! I'm not sure I'd be as brave and determined as you were keeping up with uni work, the campaign and going through all that! Now you've finished your dissertation, finished uni keeping up with everyone else, you and your family can relax together , been on a holiday and had a birthday party! Even with side effects that's a happy ending everyone takes for granted, you've achieved so much. My brother and his girlfriend signed up yesterday after seeing your site through facebook. keep up the good work x

natalie, 12 May 2009 10:58

Thanks for your kind words everyone! Updated my blog about the positives of transplants and campaigning, head on over and take a look if your interested... http://lifeondialysis--waitingforthecall.blogspot.com/2009/05/upsides-to-transplantation-and.html

Holly Shaw, 12 May 2009 09:58

Looking fwd to watching you on telly this week Holz!! Many many congrats XX

Jen, 12 May 2009 09:30

Watching Battlefront this week. Go Holly!

Rob C, Leven, 11 May 2009 23:39

Who knows when any of us would need a transplant? Thanks for doing this. In years to come, lives will be saved because of the increase in the number of registered donors. x

Ellie, 11 May 2009 23:14

Financially it's much cheaper for the NHS to transplant a kidney patient than keep them on dialysis. At the West London renal & transplant centre I was told they break even 18 months after a transplant. Kidney patients have a much worse life expectancy on dialysis than with a transplant. So why shouldnt the NHS (and society) save lives by promoting the organ donor register and living donation? In my experience transplant recipients as a group are tremendously grateful to their donors because they know only too well what they have escaped. That's what Holly's donor campaign is all about. Saving lives.

Helen R, 11 May 2009 22:47

Just seen a link on my friend's page. Good on ya!

Seb's mate, 11 May 2009 22:47

I've never really thought about signing the donor register - hadn't thought enough about it. Having seen your and others' efforts in the last year has made me realise it's a worthwhile thing and I'm now signed up. Good luck - hope you stay well.

Gerry K, 11 May 2009 22:44

This is a brilliant campaign so far. Can't wait to see the TV spot :) Keep up the great work!

Bill Hadley, 11 May 2009 22:38

Hi Holly. Great campaign. You and all the other people who have been part of The Gift of Life deserve a big thank you for raising awareness of organ donation. There will always be people who get some weird satisfaction from being nasty. I'm just so thankful you and other young people are doing something positive and useful for society.

Amanda C, 11 May 2009 22:31

Wow you people really have a lot of time on your hands don't you. I absolutely love the irony here; Holly spends hours, no sorry, weeks of her new life and her new energy fighting to help and support others, and you use your time to seek her out and absuse her. Anyone else amused by this?! Holly...you know who to listen to in life; it's the people you know, the people you love, the people who know you and the people who are responsible for your medical care. It just saddens me that some people will go to such lengths to try and put another person down. Takes all sorts.

nothingbettertodo, 11 May 2009 21:31

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