Organ donation recipient highlights lifesaving gift

A woman who has lived with kidney disease since childhood is sharing her story during Organ Donation Week to highlight the lifesaving differences that donors make.

Michelle Cotterill, Validation Clerk at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, received a kidney transplant in January this year at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham after being on dialysis for more than five years.

The 46-year-old from Wednesfield, who had been diagnosed with hereditary kidney disease at the age of four, also had one kidney removed after developing polycystic kidney disease.

She said: “I had been on dialysis for so long that it became normal to me, but the transplant has given me a new lease of life. It’s something I never thought I’d get, and I feel incredibly grateful.

“From my experience, people may be hesitant, and I was put off for many years myself. But everything was smooth, and it wasn’t as bad as you think.

“This Organ Donation Week, I feel it is so important to have a conversation about donating. I have been given a second chance to live a healthy life and be there for my kids and granddaughter.”

Following her operation and a three week recovery period in hospital, Michelle continued her follow-up care at New Cross Hospital and was able to begin a phased return to work just eight weeks later.

She said: “My family has been a huge part of my transplant and is the driving force for me getting myself on the list, as I put it off for so long. Especially my wife, who I can’t thank enough for the support she gave me. She is my absolute rock.

“I would like to thank any donors or families who agreed to donate. It helps so many lives.

“If you’re unsure about organ donation or don’t know what decision to make, please talk about it with your loved ones and find out more. Having that conversation could mean giving someone the chance of a healthier, longer life. Just like I was given.”

New figures released in the summer reveal that more than 8,000 people, including 276 children, were on the transplant waiting list at the end of March 2025 – the highest number on record.

Organ Donation Week runs from 22–28 September and encourages families across the UK to talk openly about their wishes regarding Organ Donation.

For more information go to https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/