Heart-transplant teenager Kirsty’s plea for organ donors

Fermanagh Herald
Kirsty Clarke received a heart transplant four years ago 
A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD Lisnaskea girl, who received a heart transplant three years ago, has spoken of the importance of organ donation to her, and to her family.
Kirsty Clarke, a pupil at the now closed Lisnaskea High School who is preparing for her GCSEs next year received her heart transplant on March 13, 2009 at Freemans Hospital in Newcastle after a suitable heart was donated.

This week is national organ donation week and this also coincides with Wales being the first country in the UK to introduce a mandatory ‘opt out’ system for organ donation â€" as opposed to the ‘opt in’ system we have here.

Kirsty’s mother Sharon said she thinks everyone should go onto the donor list, and she said what Wales are doing should be copied here â€" the ‘opt out’ system.

“You just don’t realise how worthwhile being an organ donor could be until you go through it yourself” she said.
Sharon knows Kirsty wouldn’t have survived without a suitable heart being donated.

Sharon Clarke explains that Kirsty first became sick in 2008 and it was discovered that a virus had attacked the left side of her heart meaning only 25 â€" 30% of her heart functioned.
______________________________________________________ 
"You have the power to SAVE lives." 
To register as a donor TODAY
In California: 
www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org | www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org 
Outside California: 
www.organdonor.gov | www.donatelife.net

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