Portsmouth pair became friends after kidney transplant tell their story in Organ Donation Week

Hua Yu’s life was changed when stranger Nicole Newman matched her for a kidney transplant. Hua needed one due to having polycystic kidney disease.

The pair became friends after Hua, from Portsmouth, sent Nicole a card to thank her.

This week marks Organ Donation Week and both women want people to talk to their families about organ donation to increase the number of people whose lives can be saved or transformed by an organ transplant.

It comes after the law around organ donation in England changed to an opt out system in May.

Hua, 52, and who matched with Nicole in 2017, said: ‘I can't put into words what Nicole has done for me and I think it is amazing.

‘The law change is great for so many people who need a transplant and I hope people share their wishes with their families about organ donations.’

Nicole, 55, from Lee-on-the-Solent, added: ‘I don’t think we walk in other people’s shoes enough and realise what families are going through when one of them needs an organ.

‘Hua always says she will get the coffees because she feels so indebted to me. I don’t tend to think about her having my kidney but it is amazing and organ donations can and does save lives.’

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Last year, 79 people in Hampshire had their lives saved by a transplant while 34 people in the county donated their organs after their death.

Anthony Clarkson, director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant said: ‘We need more people in Hampshire to talk about organ donation to increase the number of lifesaving transplants.

‘Even now the law has changed, families will still be approached before organ donation goes ahead. So it remains so important to talk to your families and make sure they know what you want to happen.

‘If the time comes, we know families find the organ donation conversation with nurses or medical teams much easier if they already know what their relative wanted.’

Find out more on the NHS Organ Donor Register at organdonation.nhs.uk

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