Transplant Patients Release Calendar

A Leeds man with Cystic Fibrosis has told us he hopes not to become one of the 3 people who die every day on the transplant waiting list. Andy Ward from Bramley may one day need a double lung transplant. He told us if he ends up on the waiting list there's a 1 in 3 chance he could die waiting: "You just don't know what's going to happen. When you get to this level of illness, every day can be a struggle and it can take one bad infection to make you critically ill. Whilst you're well enough, you get on the list so you give yourself enough time to be on the waiting list because you can be on it for a couple of years at least." Figures out today from NHS Blood and Transplant show 12 people died on the waiting list this year in West Yorkshire alone. Andy's joined up with a number of other people who've had their lives impacted by organ failure to create a calendar, celebrating the life-changing effects of receiving transplants. Having undergone transplants for lungs, hearts, livers and bone marrow the group say they're determined to do what they can to raise awareness of organ donation and the need for those already on the register to share their wishes with their families. "It's one of those taboo subjects people are too scared to talk about with their family or their friends," Andy told us. "But unfortunately it's a reality for a lot of people you know, there's people waiting and dying every week for organs." The calendar features one transplant recipient for each month in a variety of settings, many with a 1920’s inspired theme. "I did a more serious Scarface homage for my shoot," Andy said. "It's just to underline the seriousness of organ donation to give the calendar a good balance. A couple of people have done more fun shots though." Sadly the fragility of those in need of transplants became only too apparent when Anders Gibson, who posed for the calendar, died before it was printed after a yearlong wait for suitable lungs ended in an unsuccessful transplant.

22 year old Louise Davidson a double lung transplant recipient also recently passed away.

More information about each of the Transplant Troopers can be found HERE and the site is also selling the calendar to raise funds for Live Life Give Life.