transplant week 2011

Ian Thain

Meet Ian, he is currently waiting for a double lung transplant to save his life.

My name is Ian Thain, aged 47, living in Stevenage Hertfordshire. I am currently waiting for a bilateral (double) lung transplant.

I was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin deficiency towards the end 2009, which is a genetic condition present from birth. To have A1AD means you've inherited a faulty gene from both your parents. Alpha-1 is a lack of a protein known as alpha-1-antitrypsin in your blood, made by the liver. When alpha-1-antitrypsin levels get low, your lungs struggle to defend themselves against destructive enzymes. This means the enzymes destroy healthy lung tissue. A1AD results in respiratory complications such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).

As I was then living in Yorkshire, I was referred to the wonderful team in the Department of Respiratory Medicine and Transplantation at The Freeman Hospital in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne for further assessment.  When after days of extensive tests, scans and meeting all the great people involved giving my wonderful supportive wife and I all the bare facts, I was finally offered the opportunity of going onto the transplant waiting list. You have no idea what an emotional moment it was when the Professor and his team gave the news to my wife and I, we burst into tears of relief and joy knowing that there may now be hope!

Hope and the opportunity is there, we just need more donors. How would you feel being in my position? Would you wish to receive an organ from a donor?  Then be prepared to donate an organ. Please register as an organ donor today! It won't take five minutes and you can sign up here by following the prompts.