NHS Organ Donation

01/08/2026

Carwyn Jones was granted a second chance at life, after he received a kidney and pancreas transplant 6 years ago. Carwyn was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was two, but in 2016 aged 29 his life changed completely after he collapsed on his way to work.

After a series of tests Carwyn was told that he kidneys were failing and he would need dialysis treatment to keep him alive.

“Dialysis made me feel low, exhausted and drained. I was the youngest person by far at the dialysis unit, and this alone was difficult to accept.”

After three years on the transplant waiting list, after a failed transplant and at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic Carwyn underwent a double pancreas and kidney transplant.

"It’s hard to believe that in a period of such despair, I was given a second opportunity at life."
"I honestly cannot thank my donor family enough. The decision they have made means that I’m able to eventually go back to work, watch my nieces grow up, and finally enjoy life in its entirety."

"I think that it’s crucial that people talk to their families and register their organ donation decisions. It affects people of all ages, and organ donation for most people is their last chance of a ‘normal’ life."

Confirming your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register takes 2 minutes, and it’s the best thing you’ll do today.

31/07/2026

Mehreen was born with dilated cardiomyopathy and had always been able to manage with medication but three years ago she found herself hospitalised, unable to breathe and vomiting. She was told her only chance was a heart transplant.

“I hadn’t even heard of the term organ donation before I was listed for my transplant, which just shows that in our communities, it’s just not spoken about until you or someone in your family needs a transplant.”

Mehreen is from a Pakistani background, and she wants to use South Asian Heritage Month as an opportunity to start a conversation about organ donation within the South Asian community.
“A lot of family and friends didn’t know how ill I was in hospital, because it isn’t something that we would typically make public or even tell anyone about. It’s very much a cultural thing – not sharing bad news within the community.

Following her transplant, Mehreen has been able to graduate from university, run a half marathon and climb Yr Wyddfa in Wales. She has also become an aunt to her nephew who was born a year later, which she describes as “the biggest blessing” post-transplant.

“I just want more people in our communities to know just how much someone’s life can change when you say yes. I hope my story can show that.
“It’s literally just a conversation.”

She particularly wants to speak to fellow Muslims about the positives of organ donation.

“As a Muslim, charity has always been a huge aspect of my religion – whether that’s money, food, or just an act of kindness. I feel like organ donation is a form of charity in itself. By giving someone your heart, lungs, liver or kidneys after your death, not only are they able to live a healthier life without organ failure – they're able to live, full stop. And you helped them live, by talking about your wishes.”

30/07/2026

30th July is !

Tag a friend you want to tell about organ donation!

30/07/2026

🇬🇧 30th July is National Friendship Day AND National Climb a Mountain Day – so what better way than to celebrate by bringing you an update about Rob and Stewart, two members of the Welsh Football Transplant Team and friends who earlier this year completed the Three Peaks Challenge. Stewart is a kidney recipient, and Rob donated a kidney to his daughter Hollie.

The lads braved challenging weather conditions to make the summit on Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Yr Wyddfa. Congratulations to Rob, Stewart and the rest of the team who made the climb to raise awareness about organ donation and raise money for the team to go to the Transplant Football World Cup in Germany this September. Good luck for the tournament!



🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Mae 30 Gorffennaf yn Ddiwrnod Cenedlaethol Cyfeillgarwch AC yn Ddiwrnod Cenedlaethol Dringo Mynydd – felly pa ffordd well o ddathlu na sôn am Rob a Stewart, dau aelod o Dîm Pêl-droed Trawsblaniad Cymru, a’u ffrindiau a gwblhaodd Her y Tri Chopa yn gynharach eleni. Mae Stewart wedi cael aren, ac roedd Rob wedi rhoi aren i’w ferch Hollie.

Roedd y bechgyn wedi wynebu tywydd anodd i gyrraedd copa Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis a’r Wyddfa. Llongyfarchiadau i Rob, Stewart a gweddill y tîm am eu hymdrech i godi ymwybyddiaeth o roi organau ac i godi a***n i’r tîm fynd i Gwpan Pêl-droed y Byd i Dimau Trawsblaniad yn yr Almaen fis Medi yma. Pob lwc yn y twrnament!



Tim Trawsblaniad Cymru 〡 Welsh Transplant Team

27/07/2026

🔈We want to hear from you!

We've launched a new Patient and Donor Engagement Programme, led by two independent co-chairs and developed in partnership with patients, donors, families and colleagues across NHS Blood and Transplant.

Our aim is to build on what's working well, identify opportunities for improvement, and strengthen how patient and donor voices help shape our services and decisions.

👇 Survey links are in the comments and close on 10 August 2026. Your views can help us improve how we listen, engage and work together. 💙

27/07/2026

During we've brought you stories celebrating South Asian cultures and contributions, commemorating shared histories and heritages and educating people on the importance of organ donation within the South Asian community.

Thank you for celebrating with us. If you've chosen this time to confirm your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register then thank you as well.

A month of stories. A lifetime of impact.

24/07/2026

During South Asian Heritage Month we have been sharing stories that celebrate South Asian cultures and contributions, commemorate shared histories and heritages and educate about the importance of organ donation to the South Asian community.

When Bevi Sandhu was told by doctors that her son Sunni had died, she knew straight away that organ donation would be the right thing to do.

Sunni was non-verbal due to having autism and learning disabilities, but Bevi had no doubt that because of his caring nature organ donation is something he would have wanted.

“I didn't want this to be the end. I thought the only way he can carry on living is maybe living through other people, and that would be by organ donation.

“I spoke to my family and I spoke to Sunni's dad, and everyone agreed that it was a good idea. We’re Sikh, and in our community people hardly ever talk about organ donation.”

Sunni had a Sikh funeral, with two white horses with orange feathers in their manes drawing the carriage. The funeral got many people in her community talking about organ donation.

Bevi’s sister Charn said “I'm so proud of my sister for making the decision to donate (Sunni’s) organs. It certainly changed my thinking of it, as well as my friends’ and my family's - we would definitely do that too in the future.”

The pair are calling on others in their community to have more conversations about organ donation to dispel myths surrounding it, such as that it could be incompatible with a Sikh funeral.

“I think some people think that it would prevent Sikh funeral rituals from taking place, but that wasn’t our experience. The funeral still happened – we still followed the rituals and the priest did his prayers, so it can still be done,” Bevi said.

22/07/2026

You may have seen Dáithí's story on this page before or maybe you already follow . We are delighted to share the news that he has received the gift of a heart transplant, after the longest wait of any child in the world for a new heart.

Dáithí is now at the beginning of his recovery, and his family have expressed their gratitude to his donor and their family. Out of respect for the donor family's privacy, they won't be saying anything more than that at this stage and neither will we.

Everyone at NHS Blood and Transplant sends their best wishes to Dáithí and wishes him a full recovery.

Confirming your decision is the best thing you'll do today. It takes 2 minutes and you could save up to 9 lives.

Dáithí has received the gift of a heart transplant. His wait, the longest of any child in the world for a heart transplant, is over.

Dáithí is at the beginning of his recovery. There have already been some big wins for him, but there is still a long road ahead, and we would ask you all to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

Organ donation is the greatest gift anyone can ever give.

We are beyond grateful to Dáithí’s donor and their family for making such a selfless decision at the most difficult time imaginable. Out of respect for them, and for their privacy, we won’t be saying anything more at this stage.

Please keep talking about organ donation. Those conversations save lives.