Manic May & Jam-packed June!

It’s been a busy few weeks for Organ donation in the media and for me. So here’s a bit of an update... Max of Max’s Law (the opt out system) appeared alongside other people on the transplant waiting list on BBC2’s “Heart Transplant: A Chance to Live” https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b3gfth Plus the BAME community made news regarding the higher need for transplants within Black, Asian & ethnic minority groups. This is due to higher prevalence of conditions such as diabetes that can lead to organ failure, yet less people donate from the BAME community leaving a huge shortage! And how education could help solve the crisis... https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-44314885 And in my life in addition to being able to act in a theatre project to raise awareness of genetic heart disease - I’ve also been able to attend the Cardiothoracic Advisory Group in London today ❤️ representing Heart Transplant Families UK (Facebook group) and Great Ormond Street Hospital. It was fascinating if a mined field, as although I know about the Organ donation system, I realised in other areas of organ donation & transplantation I’ve barely scratched the surface. Luckily we had some of the top brains in the field to explain it including Dr Steven Tsui & Dr Jayan Parameshwar of Papworth Transplant Centre, John Forsythe (Associate Medical Director of Organ Donation & Transplantation) and representatives from BHF & Transplant centres round the UK to educate me! It was clear that although transplantation methods have moved on dramatically since my transplant 25 years ago it’s still not plain sailing, but we’re being steered in the right direction as those helm truly care about what’s best & fair for the patient. To top it off I got to chat to Emma the Mum of Max who got the government to accept the Soft Opt Out system - AMAZING! Please keep sharing this petition as it all raises much needed awareness. Please don’t hesitate to contact me at optoutcampaign@gmail.com with any queries. Take Care, Lucy xx