A Walsall mother of one has bravely shared her reality as she awaits an urgent, last-chance transplant at a Birmingham hospital. Kelly Cooley, aged 46, was given three to five years to live after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis around four years ago, following private tests.
Now, she is one of approximately 1,500 patients in the Midlands desperately waiting for an organ donor. Speaking about her prospects, she urged everyone to have serious conversations about donation with their relatives.
The Urgent Need for Organ Donors
Currently, it is assumed that people opt in to donate, rather than the previous opt-out system, but families still make the final decision on whether donation can proceed. Last year, 64 people in the Midlands died while waiting for an organ, according to the NHS.
For Kelly, her illness has taken over her life, and she now relies on an oxygen tank 24/7. She has been on the waiting list for a double lung transplant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for two years but fears she is running out of time.
Her Story
She said: I was very active before, I could run upstairs. I never stopped. I had a lovely life. Now if I want to go out, I have to go out in a wheelchair and with an oxygen tank. It is a horrible, horrible illness. You cannot breathe, you are on oxygen, you cannot walk, you get breathless, loss of appetite, feel like you have the flu.
The illness has taken over my life now. They always told me it would. I thought I would be okay, then it hits you and you get scared. I know a transplant is my only chance. If I do not get a transplant, I am going to die. That is where I am at, at the minute.
Impact on Daily Life
Since developing the illness, she has been hospitalised four times, including with pneumonia and lung infections. In the past two years, she had to give up her job of 20 years as the condition worsened.
My mum and partner, rest of my family and friends are all devastated, especially as I am so ill and I am running out of time, she explained. There is no cure or anything to help fibrosis at the moment.
In her support group, there are around 20 people also waiting for a double lung transplant. When somebody comes in, it goes on who is the most poorly, and if not, who has been on the longest.
Low Consent Rates in the Midlands
Sadly, the Midlands has one of the lowest rates of families consenting to organ donation when their loved one dies. Kelly said: Talk to your family about donors and giving parts up because it could really change someone's life. I know it is an awful thing for someone to pass away. It does upset me that someone is going to pass away to save my life. But when we do pass, it can save someone's life.
A lot of families do not talk about it. Being a donor is not for everybody, I totally understand, but if you do want to be a donor, just make it clear and have the conversation.
