A NURSE at Hillingdon Hospital, himself a heart transplant survivor, is urging people to sign the organ donor register and help save a life.
Wilson Del Carmen’s heart stopped suddenly two years ago and he would have died if the medical team had not been able to find a donor match.
Now the theatre recovery nurse wants to give something back by persuading other potential life-savers to sign up.
Mr Del Carmen recently spent a day in the main reception at Hillingdon Hospital with his colleague Claire Dua, a specialist nurse for organ donation, encouraging passers-by to join the organ donor register.
“If my heart donor hadn’t joined the register, I probably wouldn’t be standing here now,” the 34-year-old told the Gazette. “She was only two years younger than me. I am forever grateful.”
Mr Del Carmen was on the waiting list for a month before he received his new heart at Harefield Hospital. If his donor had not been registered, he may have had a much longer wait, or may never have found a suitable match.
“Luckily my body didn’t reject it and to this day I am feeling fit and healthy,” he said.
“I ask that everyone over the age of 18 should at least consider donating their organs after death.”
Mr Del Carmen pointed out that 96 per cent of people would accept an organ if they needed one but only 29 per cent of the population are on the donation register.
Ms Dua said: “I work closely with staff and patients’ families in hospital wards such as the intensive care unit and accident and emergency, making sure that they have the correct information and support when donating organs for transplantation.
“It is a sensitive subject but I hope to help make the idea of organ donation a regular thing, rather than something that is unusual.”
The event was a success, with more than 50 potential life-savers completing a form and taking some away for their families and friends.
Mr Del Carmen took part in a record-breaking organ donor drive in Covent Garden in November, during which 321 people signed up in one hour.
