Organ donation advocate receives regional award
An organ donation advocate at Barts Health NHS Trust has received an NHSBT Regional Collaborative Excellence Award for her work promoting organ donation in the local area.
Val Lea, an organ donation patient representative has been involved with the trust ever since her husband became a kidney recipient 20 years ago.
Her husband, Dennis, was diagnosed with renal failure a few years prior in which his health rapidly deteriorated. Within a few months of his diagnosis, he was put on dialysis, a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly. With the dialysis not having any much effect, Dennis came close to death and eventually received a kidney transplant at The Royal London Hospital in March 2000 – he was 54 years old.
After a slow start, Dennis made an excellent recovery and returned to full-time work a year later. It was from her husband’s experience that Val wanted to give back to the field which saved her husband’s life.
“Dennis receiving a transplant 20-years-ago was a miracle for which we will be forever grateful. We are amazed by the dedication of all the staff involved in this field and will continue to do everything we can to raise awareness of organ donation. During the last 20 years, his health has been affected by several major illnesses but throughout it all his new kidney has been wonderful and handled all the complicated procedures and medicines. Dennis has been so grateful that he has lived a full, active life, and is enjoying seeing his four grandchildren grow up”.
A NHS Blood and Transplant Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation based at The Royal London welcomed the news, and described how Val had been an invaluable advocate for organ donation in the trust. “It’s a great opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of one our valued team members. Val has been a leading member of the organ donation committee at Barts Health for many years and the awareness she’s raised has been priceless.
Val received her award at the Organ Donation Committee which takes place at the RLH every month.