People in Greater Manchester told – You Could Be A Lifesaver

People living in Greater Manchester are being asked to act now – because you could be a lifesaver. NHS Blood and Transplant, which oversees organ donation in the UK, is calling on everyone in Greater Manchester to add their name and decision to the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Every organ donor can save up to nine lives after they die by giving their organs to patients waiting for a transplant.

Thirty-eight people in Greater Manchester became an organ donor after their death in 2021/22. And 180 patients waiting for a transplant in Greater Manchester received a life changing gift last year*.

One person who knows the comfort organ donation brings to donor families is Louise Callaghan. Her son, Jacob Reid Callaghan died and donated his organs to save the lives of others. Jacob received the Order of St John award for organ donation last year in recognition of his life-saving gift.

Jacob was a quiet and kind young man. He had some struggles in his life but led a quiet and happy life - enjoying spending time with family and his best friend Glenn, gaming, music, walking with the family dog and the theatre. Jacob, 29, was a big Manchester City fan and very close to his mum, Louise and his grandma, Carole Williams, who he lived with.

Sadly Jacob, from Swinton, fell and banged his head at home one day in September 2021, possibly due to a seizure. The accident caused a catastrophic brain injury that Jacob could not recover from. He donated both his kidneys to save two lives and his tissue to hopefully help many other people in future.

His mum Louise, says, “I’m so proud of Jacob, he is my hero. I miss him so much, people say it gets easier but it doesn’t. He was the kindest person in the world, he wouldn’t hurt a soul and he was my angel.

“He was quiet and private unless he knew you, then he’d come out of his shell more. Jacob was a real homebird and loved being with me and his grandma. He enjoyed holidays but always looked forward to getting home.

“Jacob chose to be a donor himself. He joined the register when he got his driving licence at 17. Then a few years later we were talking, I said I definitely wanted to be an organ donor and Jacob said he’d already chosen and was on the list. I didn’t think I’d need the information, that he would go before me.

“Then my mum found him on the bathroom floor one morning. I went straight round and it was so traumatic, he’d been ok and talking then was unconscious. We went to hospital and I still thought he was going to be ok but they said he had a catastrophic brain injury.

“The organ donation team spoke to us and said Jacob wanted to be a donor, I wouldn’t say no – my Jacob had chosen to be a donor, I said absolutely, go for it. I wanted to honour Jacob’s wishes.

“It was easier because we’d spoken. I think we’d have done it anyway as Jacob was that kind and caring. But the fact we’d had that conversation meant I had to go with what Jacob said, it was his choice.

“Everyone was amazing, I got to sleep beside him, play him his music, they just helped us every step of the way. Jacob donated his kidneys and tissue, so in keeping with the beautiful person he was.

“When I went to the Order of St John awards, I was so proud. I went up to collect it from all the officials and we had our photo taken. I’ve got his certificate up at home and his medal. Something good has come from all this and now sharing his story will help others too and it was all worth it.

“Get your family told about what you want so you can help others. Organ donation was Jacob’s choice and he has saved lives.

“Jacob had his struggles but he was happy and we have all our memories. He’s at peace now and he is around me all the time, I know he is. Jacob was my only child and was the best boy ever. He had low self-esteem and didn’t feel special but he has saved lives and everyone thinks he is a hero. I’m just so proud of him.”

And someone who knows the difference organ donation makes to someone who needs a transplant is Hannah Logue. She was only a baby when she fell seriously ill with liver failure. At just six weeks old, her parents were told she had biliary atresia, a condition where the bile ducts don’t develop properly. A Kasai operation to try and fix the problem was sadly unsuccessful.

At a few months old Hannah was listed for an urgent liver transplant, being placed at the top of the list because she was in a life-threatening condition. A donor became available just in time to save her life.

Hannah has gone on to become a doctor, inspired by her donor and because she wanted to give back to NHS. She is leading a full and happy life, getting married last year and recently celebrating the 30th anniversary of her liver transplant.

Hannah, aged 30, from Prestwich, says: “When I was born nothing seemed to be wrong, my parents thought I was happy and healthy.

“When my mum took me to my six week check, the GP wasn’t happy with my colour and tests showed I had biliary atresia. At nine weeks old I had my Kasai but a month later it was clear it hadn’t worked.

“They asked my mum and dad if they wanted me to be made comfortable and I might last 18 months or I could be listed for a transplant, which I was at 4 months old. My condition was deteriorating and in January 1993 I was very unwell and was admitted to hospital and was put on the top of the transplant list because I was so sick.

“My mum and dad thought I was going to die, it was horrendous for them. They were sitting by my bedside, watching and helpless. Less than a month later I got a call and had a partial liver transplant, as the liver regenerates.

“My mum said straightaway she couldn’t believe the colour of me, I was so pink. I was very lucky and I have honestly been so well ever since. They are so eternally grateful to my donor. It’s difficult for me as it’s so abstract, I was so young when it happened and I have been so well my whole life. It’s hard to believe it happened to me. I thank my donor for my life. It’s emotional and I can’t really put it into words.

“It’s inspired me and is the reason I am a doctor. I wanted to give back, from a young age I wanted to be a doctor and actress so thought I’d be in Casualty! Then I did a degree in Physiology then medicine and graduated as a doctor in 2019. Everyone in the NHS has always been amazing in looking after me and my parents have talked so highly of all the clinicians. I wanted to emulate that and be part of this amazing service, that saved my life. What better way than to dedicate my life to the NHS, I am giving back and saving some lives myself.

“I couldn’t be a transplant surgeon, it’s not for me, but as an obstetrician there are surgical elements and it is very rewarding and challenging. I am passionate about women’s health and delivering babies is amazing. I’ve lost count of the number I have delivered, it is a privilege.

“Thanks to my donor I have led a normal life, I have been to uni twice, completed medical school, I got married last year and I’ve been able to travel the world. I have completed half marathons and am not sure about a full marathon but I’ll see!

“Organ donation is so important, people must have those conversations. People think you don’t need to do anything, but you do, join the register and talk to your family.

“What are you going to do with your organs? Bury them, cremate them, why would you want to take them to you? Look at me, you can put them to good use, thousands of people need a transplant.”

Hannah is married to Matthew. She was born in Bury and treated in Manchester and Birmingham hospitals before moving to Glasgow at the age of one. Hannah moved back to Manchester in 2022 and works as an obstetrician at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Thanks to incredible organ donors and their families thousands of lives are saved each year however around 7,000 people are still waiting for their transplant, including 324 people in Greater Manchester**.

People in Greater Manchester are being urged to make sure their family, who will always be involved if organ donation is a possibility, know what they want so they can support their decision to save lives. By adding your name and decision to the register, your family will be in no doubt.

Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “You could be a lifesaver, which is an amazing legacy to leave – organ donation saves lives.

“Families will always be consulted before organ donation goes ahead and are more likely to support your decision if they know it is what you wanted.

“Please add your name and decision to the NHS Organ Donor Register to help save more lives. It takes just two minutes to sign up to be a lifesaver, online or using the NHS App.”

Search organ donation online, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or use the NHS App.