LAST month marked a very special milestone for Neil Bradshaw – 25 years since he received a new pancreas and kidney.
Neil had his double transplant at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital in August 1998 – a day he clearly remembers not only for his life-changing operation but because it was the day he asked his future wife, Alison, to marry him.
It’s an anniversary the former IT support technician from South Shields usually marks privately by lighting a candle in church to remember the person who gave him the gift of life – and their family.
But the significance of this year’s milestone prompted Neil to share his own story and help build awareness of the incredible difference organ donation can make.
“I got my second chance when I was called into hospital at 2am in the morning and was told I was an almost perfect match and the transplant could go ahead,” he said.
“I’d always said if I get this opportunity of a transplant I’m going to propose and that’s just what I did before going into theatre – five weeks later I walked out of hospital with a new pancreas, kidney and a future wife.”
Despite being a Type 1 diabetic for 25 years, Neil was in general decent health and a keen indoor and outdoor rock climber. However, his physical condition began to deteriorate and eventually he discovered he was in ‘borderline renal failure.’ A year later he began dialysis and was put on the transplant list in March 1998.
Five months later he had a combined kidney and pancreas transplant as part of a pilot study – although it is now the recommended treatment for patients with diabetes and kidney failure who are fit enough – with the Freeman being one of very few hospitals able to provide this simultaneous multi-transplant surgery.
As a result of his life-changing operation Neil, who is now 64, has accomplished other milestones he’d set himself:
- He’s a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Environmental Studies
- He sailed through an exam to be an indoor climbing instructor – a goal set with his consultant Derek Manas pre-transplant (although unfortunately arthritis in his shoulder scuppered his chance of following that through)
- And of course, he got married
Every day, it remains a gift that Neil doesn’t take for granted so it’s poignant that he shares his story as part of Organ Donation Week.
“That person who gave me the chance of life will be in my mind until the day I die,” he said.
“I’ve never received any information about my donor or their family but there is never a day goes by that I don’t think of them. I’m do model engineering and I’d have loved to have named a train after them but I always remember and light a candle on the anniversary – this year I went Hexham Abbey.”
In May 2020, the law around organ donation in England was changed to allow people to save more lives and it’s now considered that you agree to become an organ donor when you die if you’re over 18, have not opted out and are not in an excluded group.
However, this year’s campaign aims to get 25,000 more people to register their decision to become an organ donor – and whatever is decided, to talk to your loved ones about it. They will always be consulted and can overturn a decision if they aren’t sure what you want.
Neil added: “Have those conversations – by doing so you’re potentially agreeing to turning someone else’s life around from back to front and helping them to lead a normal a life as possible.
“It really is a gift and I’m sure families get a lot of comfort knowing a loved-one lives on through someone else.”
