Shropshire Star

Transplant let me see my daughter marry

It was the day he thought he'd never live to see. Diagnosed with a terminal lung disease, Graham Wagstaff did not think he would be around to walk his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day.

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But after undergoing a life-saving transplant, the Albrighton businessman was able to fly to America, where daughter Helen Caverner now lives, and give her away.

Now he is asking others to be inspired by his story to join the Organ Donor Register, increasing the number of organs available for donation.

Helen, who moved to California from Albrighton, said her father was close to dying before having the the operation.

He had been suffering from congenital lung disease and at one stage was forced to temporarily close his business, Saturn Motor Company.

Helen, who attended Shrewsbury Sixth Form, said: "I got married in December and without that donor my dad wouldn't have been there to walk me down the aisle."

The 33-year-old moved to America around five years ago to follow her dreams of being a dancer and an actress.

It was there she met her husband Patrick, at one of the acting classes he teaches.

"I live in Los Angeles now, which is where the wedding was, so my family also had to come all the way out here." explained Helen

"It was an interesting journey for dad with all the medication donor patients have to take.

"Dad's speech was amazing, especially as he was speaking to a room full of Americans in a Wolverhampton accent.

"My family truly made it a fantastic time and now I want to help raise awareness about organ donation.

"We would like to thank the staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and maybe the family of the donor is out there somewhere, because to this day we don't know where the donor came from."

Mr Wagstaff, 68, who eventually reopened his business, said: "The wedding was a brilliant day and at one point I was not sure I'd make it, certainly not without a transplant.

"It was magic to be able to walk my daughter down the aisle.

"I wouldn't be here today if it hadn't been for transplant. There was a time I was on oxygen 24 hours a day.

"I never would have been able to make the trip to LA, in fact we had a place in Spain which we went to the September before I had my transplant that I didn't think I would never be able to see again.

"My brother, Michael, had the same disease and died when he was 49, which was 16 years ago, so when I contracted the same thing it was a bit of a shock.

"Everything has gone really well since then and I managed to reopen the business in 2009. I saw my daughter again over Easter and we try to see each other as much as possible now.

"There have been magical moments and miraculously I was able to return to the business I enjoyed for more than 35 years.

"A lot of people just don't realise the importance of being a donor so we try to promote it as much as we can. I didn't really think about it until my brother was ill but you never know what's round the corner.

"It is difficult to convey the importance of agreeing to become an organ donor.

"All I can say is that it is important, it does save lives. We wouldn't wish anybody to die for any reason. It will save somebody's life if people were brave enough or kind enough to become organ donors."

Mr Wagstaff explained that though thousands of people may be on the register, not everyone is suitable for organ donation.

Currently the UK operates an opt-in system on organ donation, where people must put themselves forward for the register.

But debate is ongoing about whether this should change to an opt-in system, where people are automatically registered unless they decide otherwise.

In Wales an opt-out system will come into force in Wales in December 1 2015, but is still under debate for the rest of the UK.

The British Medical Association (BMA), many transplant surgeons, and some patients' groups and politicians are keen to see the whole of Britain adopt the opt-out system.

There is a particular need for more people of African, African-Caribbean and south Asian ethnicities to join the Organ Donor Register as donation among these ethnicities are low.

In the UK between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013 4,212 organ transplants were carried out, thanks to 2,313 donors.

Since April 1 2014, 117 people have donated organs, a further 202 people have donated corneas, 315 people have received transplants and 6,979 people are still waiting for transplants

One donor can give multiple organs and tissue for transplant.

There is no age limit to becoming a donor and a person's physical condition is the deciding factor - the NHS states that people in their 70s and 80s have been successful donors.

There is now also call for more people to become bone marrow donors to help people suffering with leukaemia and aplastic anaemia as well as other diseases of the immune system.

Bone marrow can be donated through a non-surgical procedure in hospital.

Mr Wagstaff said: "There are hundreds and hundreds of people waiting for organs.

"We hear so many sad stories and rarely a story like mine. Someone who said 'yes' gave me my life back."

To become an organ donor call 0845 6060400, visit the UK Transplant website organdonation.nhs.ukor pick up a donor card from a surgery or chemist.

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