Home / Health / Young Heart Patient Urges Organ Donor Registration
Young Heart Patient Urges Organ Donor Registration
6 Oct
Summary
- A 12-year-old's cardiac arrest highlights urgent need for organ donor registration.
- Over 700 donations failed as families were unaware of loved ones' wishes.
- Registering takes two minutes but can save up to nine lives.
Soban Saqib, now 21, is advocating for organ donor registration after experiencing a cardiac arrest at age 12. He is currently awaiting a life-saving transplant due to end-stage heart failure from an inherited genetic condition. His heart stopped for 16 minutes during the childhood incident, a trauma that led to post-traumatic stress disorder.
More than 700 potential organ donations failed between April 2021 and March 2026 because families were unaware of their loved ones' wishes, reports NHS Blood and Transplant. This situation occurs as organ donation rates have fallen by 9% compared to last year, with over 8,700 people on the UK transplant waiting list.
Venice Coleman also shared her story, urging registrations after her husband Dave died in 2021. He needed a transplant due to cardiomyopathy but complications arose. Coleman emphasizes the importance of discussing donation wishes with family. Specialist nurse Kim O'Connell highlights that registering takes two minutes but can save up to nine lives.
