Five strangers have offered to donate one of their kidneys to a Western Isles woman who needs a transplant urgently.
Chrisanna Macdonald published her story on social media in a bid to raise awareness of organ donation. She told how she may die as her first kidney transplant is failing seven years after gruelling surgery.
Chrisanna who lives in North Tolsta, Lewis, with young son Daniel, 13, relayed her battle to survive as she launched a new campaign group, Isle Save a Life.
Out of the blue, five different people she didn’t know pledged to give her a kidney after the post were viral with 18,000 likes and 1000 shares across the internet.
Chrisanna said: “I wasn't even looking for a donor. I am very blessed that there are people out there that have offered their support and good wishes to me. I hope and pray that everything will pan out.
Though forced to give up work due to ill health, the campaigner is busy raising cash for local charities.
This Saturday sees the group’s first major fundraising event – an ‘Old Hollywood’ themed dinner dance at the Caberfeidh Hotel, Stornoway.
Chrisanna has high hopes for the evening, but positive thinking is something that’s
vital to the 40-
A diabetic since childhood, Chrisanna contracted chronic kidney disease in 2001 and six years later underwent a kidney and pancreas transplant. Although the operation was successful, shortly after she developed a viral illness and nearly lost both new organs.
The virus left Chrisanna’s kidney with other problems, and then last summer she suffered from pneumonia and pleurisy – and her transplanted kidney was knocked out of action. She has since been on and off haemodialysis, and is now being assessed for transplant yet again.
Chrisanna’s health battle is far from over, but she’s determined to keep raising awareness, and money, for those who have helped her.
She said: “When you go through something like that it makes you look at things with a different perspective. And you’ve got to make the most of what time you have, try to cram everything in.
“The Old Hollywood Night is really keeping me going and it’s been fantastic to response – we’ve got nearly £20,000 worth of amazing prizes.”
Raising funds for the Western Isles Kidney Patient Association and British Heart Foundation, the evening’s raffle has attracted prizes from celebrities like Sir Elton John, Dawn French, Sir Chris Hoy, Steven Gerrard, Craig Revel Horwood, Billy Connelly, Dame Helen Mirren and Sir Anthony Hopkins.
“I was totally gobsmacked at the response,” said Chrisanna. “If I’d got replies, I’d expected a PA or someone junior to get back to me, but many of the celebrities put in a wee note or emailed me back themselves.”
As well as the star-
The ultimate prize of the evening for Chrisanna however, will be the awareness raised, and the possibility that more people will become organ donors.
Chrisanna explained: “One person can save up to eight lives by donating their organs after their death.
“It’s hard not to think ‘someone died to give me life’, but I have to think ‘someone’s time had come and they wanted to prolong my life’,” she continued.
“Statistically, it’s more likely you’ll need a donor than be a donor so I’d encourage people to be donors. If you have the option to give someone life after you had gone, why wouldn’t you? If you’re not able to live your life to the full, then pass it on.”
This week Organ Donation Scotland launched a campaign to encourage Scots to make their organ donation wishes known to family and friends, revealing that around 90 more lives could be saved each year, if family authorisation rates for organ donation increase.
Tickets for the Isle Save a Life Old Hollywood Night are available from Events, Stornoway, buffet /dance £25, dance only £10.
Strangers offer kidneys to save islander’s life 31/10/14
