WHO GETS THE HEART CHANNEL 4 THURSDAY!

[misdee]

Please please watch. Peter F is on it, and some of it is filmed at harefield.

[misdee]

Every day, lives are lost due to Britain's chronic shortage of organ donors. This series follows a small number of the people whose chances of survival depend on getting a new heart. Filmed over the course of a year, Who Gets the Heart? illuminates the doctors' dilemmas and the family traumas that underpin the most emotionally-charged list in the country.

In the first programme we meet Jenna, 21, who loves living life to the full and is having trouble accepting how serious her heart condition is. Peter, initially thought to be too ill to undergo a transplant operation, was fitted with an artificial heart. Four months later his own heart had recovered enough that he was then considered too well to go on the transplant list. But it is still a waiting game, for him and his family, as he has to endure countless tests to monitor his normal and artificial heart and assess whether he should be listed for transplant. "We are all waiting for the heart", says Peter's wife Sam

[misdee]

1. You are more likely to need a transplant than become a donor

2. Organ transplants save or enhance nearly 3,000 lives every year

3. There is a critical shortage of organs donated for transplant

4. More than 8,000 people in the UK currently need a transplant

5. Approximately 400 people die each year while waiting for a transplant

6. Adults wait an average of 137 days for a heart and 394 days for a lung. Children wait an average of 105 days for a heart.

7. Nine out of ten people in the UK support organ donation but only one in five has signed up to the NHS Organ Donor Register

8. A donor can donate a heart, lungs, two kidneys, pancreas, liver and small bowel and can restore the sight of two people by donating their corneas

9. The number of people needing a transplant is expected to rise steeply over the next decade due to an ageing population, an increase in kidney failure and scientific advances resulting in more people being suitable for a transplant

10. Around 40% of relatives of potential donors say 'no' to donating their loved one's organs, mainly because they don't know their wishes or have never discussed organ donation. However, objection is virtually unknown if family members are aware that their loved one wanted to donate.

[Joanie]

Hi Misdee,
How ya doing. I'm a bit of a lurker rather than poster, but had to butt in on this one. Can't believe that Peter is STILL waiting . Poor him and you and all your family. Just keep going.

Anyway, when was this prog, was it in the middle of the night?? I saw your short thread on this yesterday and looked at C4 listings, but couldn't see it. Pete & I would have found it interesting.
Is it a series, next one next week??

BTW Pete is really getting into that art project at Harefield. I always see him looking at picies of bags n wires etc now! He is emailing the artists now. Nice to see a picture of your Pete on it.

[misdee]

sorry, its on next thursday more info here and its a two parter. be ready with the tissues. Its going to be hard watching as i know the outcome of one patient.

The art project is amazing, and good fun. I keep meaning to take in Peters laptop so the other long term patients can see the site.

[Joanie]

Blimey, that was quick!
(anyone would think you spent a lot of time on mumsnet )
Glad its next week.
Better get back to work I suppose. Mostly look at mumsnet when I'm working so try not to get into long threads.
Take care. Will try to chat more sometime.
ps - you're a good publicist for the cause, I bet somepeople on here have gone on the donor list cos of your posts, so you have probably saved someone's life. Keep up the good work.
Cheers, JT

[misdee]

i am just popping on and off between cleaning and form filling which seem to be my life at the moment (youngest 2 are having naps, eldest is at school).

[moondog]

Ah Misdee,started a thread asking you about this as I wondered if it was your Peter.
As I said,your experiences have really made a lasting impression on us. I think very hard about this now (although have carried a donor card since age of 18)

I will be watching and I never watch tv!

[florenceuk]

bumpity bump for tonight

[florenceuk]

Er actually tomorrow night - I thought it was Thursday today

[misdee]

BIG HEARTY BUMP

[Marina]

It's this one I was thinking of when I started that earlier thread. Will be watching.
Really cannot believe that stat: that we are more likely to need a transplant than be an organ donor. That is so shocking

[misdee]

i have just got my bumper pack of goodies to promote transplant week. must sort out actually doing soemthing to hand it all out.

[RTKangaMummy]

kwmfpwaokefp[la[f'l

[misdee]

thumpity thump.

[misdee]

bump.

[RTKangaMummy]

kmlkjoiwejfopwijepfjkapokpojkeropigvjkel;jkmfvmxlkmvlknxlvm

[misdee]

NOW!!!

[Posey]

Thanks for the reminder. Tuning in now.

[misdee]

i dont want to watch either. but i am. am feeling sick when theymentioned sudden death.

[misdee]

me too.

its Sam, Peter and Amber. i remember the ITU days