A THURROCK man has taken centre stage to highlight the importance and impact of organ donation.

To mark Organ Donation Week (21 to 28 September), Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is sharing stories from patients and families whose lives have been changed by organ donation and the specialist nurses who support them.

More than 8,500 people in the UK are currently waiting for an organ transplant, according to figures from NHS Blood and Transplant.

Yet despite the generosity of donors and their families, around 400 people each year die or become too ill to receive a transplant before a suitable organ becomes available.

The difference an organ donation can make is exemplified in the story of Grays man David Marchant, 60, had a liver transplant in 2023 after living for almost two decades with a rare liver condition.

A builder and a keen runner, David said his health deteriorated so gradually that he did not fully realise how unwell he had become until everyday tasks started becoming more difficult.

Following his transplant at Addenbrooke's Hospital, David faced a lengthy recovery, but the operation gave him a second chance at life.

Just over a year later, he was back on the athletics track competing at the British Transplant Games, where he won a bronze medal in the 1,500 metres.

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More than three years on, David continues to attend regular three-monthly check-ups with transplant specialists from Addenbrooke's and Basildon hospitals to monitor his health and ongoing treatment.

Reflecting on the impact of organ donation, he said: "You appreciate every day a lot more, and you appreciate things that you probably took for granted before. I think it's an amazing gift. If you're not going to be here, you could save so many people."

Across Mid and South Essex Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals specialist nurses from NHS Blood and Transplant work closely with intensive care and emergency department teams to identify patients who may be suitable organ donors and support families through the donation process, ensuring any decision is made in line with the patient's wishes.

Lucy Chaplin, Specialist Nurse for Organ Donation based at Basildon Hospital, said: "When families choose to support organ donation, they create opportunities for others to live longer, healthier and more independent lives.

"Although no organ transplants take place at our hospitals, last year our team helped arrange 26 donations, leading to 71 lifesaving or life-changing transplants. Those numbers represent real people, real families and futures that might not otherwise have been possible."

If you'd like to register your organ donation decision it takes just two minutes to do it online at Register your decision - NHS Organ Donation or by calling 0300 123 23 23.