Opt Out Or Opt In? How should the organ donor register be?

Hi my name is Aaran (Az)Mansell, i am the husband of Donna Mansell who used to be a regular visitor to this forum and im from Kidderminster in the United Kingdom.

I didn't receive a transplant, my wife did (2 hearts), but its made me change my outlook on what the people who visit here have to go through and how it can affect those closest.

Unfortunately my wife didn't make it and sadly passed away on July 2nd 2010 whilst waiting for her third heart transplant aged just 26. We married in February, eventually, after having to postpone twice. This time round the doctors told us to cancel as she was too ill to get married. Donna was adamant that she didn't want to die without marrying me and we decided to go ahead with the ceremony anyway and we were married at st Mary & all saints church in Kidderminster on the 26th February 2010.

Whilst Donna was waiting to be listed on the transplant list she spent alot of time promoting organ donation and as a result persuaded many people to join the organ donation register. After being listed she spoke to a few people who mentioned a campaign for getting the current UK system of an Opt In Organ Donation register changed to that of an OPT OUT. Donna wanted to jump on with this campaign and started rallying support and I was behind her every step of the way.

As a mark of respect for my wife I have started a campaign in her name called Donna's Dream with the hope of getting enough signatures on the petition and enough support to persuade government officials to consider a change in the current organ donation system.

If we can achieve this it will make Donna's 8 year fight with heart failure and rejection not be in vain.

Please visit the website i have built for the campaign at http://donnasdream.co.uk

A full story of Donna's life is on this page http://donnasdream.co.uk/donnas-story/ which was written by Donna herself and also includes a YouTube video she made during her last few months.

Tags: donation, donna, donnas, donor, dream, in, mansell, opt, organ, out, More…register

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Hostess Risé on August 24, 2010 at 8:47am

Dear Aaran,
I am truly touched by Your Story about everything you just shared. Please join Transplantbuddies and share your message again. I will check out website and videos.

Keep on promoting organ donation and what better way to do this in your beloved Wife's name.

Best regards
Rise'
http://transplantbuddies.com

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by AzMansell on August 24, 2010 at 8:49am

ok many thanks, will do x

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Debi on November 2, 2010 at 2:09am

What a stunningly beautiful bride. And a very happy one. I'm sure your love had a lot to do with this.
I am Debi Bair. Last year I walked 100 miles through the state of Florida to raise money so I could get on the transplant list. I received my heart in July. I am going to walk again in November in an attempt to sign up 5,000 new organ donors. I think if people like us keep chipping away, we will make a difference. After working as an ICU nurse for 16 years, I firmly believe most people would gladly become donors, they just haven't talked to their families about it. Hopefully, with my walk, I'll get people talking. I hope your efforts are rewarded as well.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by AzMansell on March 24, 2011 at 12:39pm

There is one Bruno,

Ive been speaking to him recently and we are going to be working together to get the system changed. It will take time but we will get there.

I have a new web address for our campaign too which is http://www.SignThePetition.org. Please share this in any way you can, whether it be on here, facebook twitter etc.

Many thanks for all your kind words it really means alot x

Donnas Dream