Anna hoping for extra special gift this Christmas - The Worcester Observer

Anna hoping for extra special gift this Christmas

Worcester Editorial 8th Dec, 2019   0

A WORCESTER teenager is among 48 people in the county who are facing Christmas on the waiting list for an organ transplant.

Families in Worcestershire are being urged to share their organ donation decision this festive season so their loved ones know what they want when they die and more patients can receive the transplants they need.

There are currently 6,186 patients in need of an organ transplant in the UK, and 185 of them are children.

Anna Hadley, 14, has been waiting for a heart transplant for around 18 months and faces her second Christmas on the list.




“Christmas day is always spent at home with my family. I love opening my presents on Christmas morning. My favourite part of Christmas dinner is the sprouts, I always eat those first,” she said.

“One of my favourite thing about Christmas is sitting on the couch, in front of the fire with a hot chocolate watching a Christmas Film like Polar Express.


“I treat every day the same and don’t think about the heart transplant at all. Christmas is such a great time and I have wondered what a Christmas day might be like inside hospital.

“I can’t really go abroad because I need to stay in the UK, just in case a donor is found. As soon as I am allowed, I want to go skiing and have a snowy Christmas.

“I am lucky because I feel quite well most days and hope that continues. I hope I can stay out of hospital for as long as I can, but if a donor is found then I am ready and excited about receiving a healthy heart and getting back to playing hockey again.

“I don’t think there is a better New Year resolution anyone could make than registering as a donor and telling family and friends about it.”

Anna is one of 38 children across the UK waiting for the call that a heart has been found for them.

It is particularly difficult to find organs to help small children waiting for a heart transplant, as they need a heart the right size for their body.

Another 147 children are in need of other organs and just over 6,000 adults join them on the waiting list.

Visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk for more.

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