Northampton transplant sisters changed one another's lives after vital kidney donation

Selfless Hayley Cole went above and beyond the duty of any sibling last year when she gave her sister, Natasha, one of her kidneys to help save her life.

Now, one year on from the important surgery, the pair are issuing an important message as part of national organ donation week.

Natasha said: "Organ donation week each year is very important. I celebrate my actual birthday each year and having received a kidney from Hayley, I look on this as having another birthday.

"Without Hayley's selfless gift, I don't know how much longer I would have to live. Yes, I would keep doing the dialysis but it is very restrictive. Thankfully, with Hayley's gift, I wasn't dependent on waiting for someone to die and their relatives giving permission for an 'organ donation.'

"So, on this anniversary I remember and give thanks to my living donor, Hayley, for her kindness and generosity. I also remember and give thanks to my other donor's family. For their kindness and generosity too. At a very sad time, they made the decision to donate their loved one's organs for transplantation. Fortunately for me, I was the one who benefitted from their kind gift. As each year goes by, I hope and pray that I am able to continue to show my appreciation to those who have shown kindness to me."

Nineteen years ago, Natasha had a heart and lung transplant while her life was hanging in the balance.

She had already been on a waiting list for an organ donation for seven years at Harefield Hospital, and after a 10-hour operation in June, Natasha was finally on the road to recovery and was back at home after a 13-week stint on the wards.

Last year, Natasha needed a kidney transplant and her younger sister Hayley came forward to become her 'living donor'.

She added: "My kidneys started to deteriorate very rapidly since July 2018. Since Hayley gave me one of her kidneys I have had much more energy. And, after three months, I was able to go back to my volunteering work at the Salvation Army Superstore in Abington Street.

"I started with one day for a couple of hours, then in the new year, two days for a couple of hours. I had bought myself an electric mobility scooter to help me get out and about but with this new kidney I was able to go for walks without out it. It felt great."

This week the National Lift Tower, one of Northampton's main landmarks, is raising awareness surrounding national organ donation week, and is lighting up for three nights to start a conversation among families about their wishes.

A change in the law last year, known as opt out, now means that if a person has not made their consent for donation clear, it could mean that all adults have agreed to become organ donors when they die.

Currently there is 74 people in Northamptonshire waiting for an organ transplant and only 317,005 residents in the county who are signed up to the register.

Natasha added: "Their are many transplant recipients who are indebted to their donors and each of us have our own way of saying thanks.

"Sadly, their are many others, on various organ transplantation lists who don't get this gift in time.

"With the change in organ donation laws this year, I urge people to talk, talk and keep talking to your family and make sure that your wishes are known to them."

Hayley added: "It’s important to raise awareness of organ donation and to encourage families and friends to discuss their wishes.

"Organ donation really does transform and save lives, but if you haven’t talked about what you want how will they know?

"Tashas heart and lung transplant 19 years ago saved her life, my kidney transformed it. How lucky are we in this country to have the ability to do that with the people we love?"