An 18-year-old who has spent his entire life knowing he would need a heart transplant has described the agonising wait for a donor as feeling like a "human time bomb".
A Lifetime of Waiting
Since birth, the teenager has been living with dilated cardiomyopathy, a serious condition where the heart muscle becomes stretched and thin, unable to pump blood efficiently around the body. Doctors identified the condition early, telling his family he would eventually need a transplant to survive.
"I've grown up with this knowledge hanging over me," he shared. "Every birthday, every Christmas, I wonder if this will be the year I get the call. It's like waiting for a sentence to be carried out, except you don't know when it's coming."
The Emotional Toll
The constant uncertainty has taken a significant psychological toll. Simple pleasures that other teenagers take for granted - like going out with friends or planning for the future - are overshadowed by his medical reality.
"Some days I feel like I can't make any proper plans because I might be in hospital having surgery next week," he explained. "Other days, the waiting feels endless. It's this strange limbo where you're both rushing toward something and stuck in place."
The Reality of Organ Waiting Lists
His story highlights the challenging reality faced by thousands of people on organ transplant waiting lists across the UK. While medical advances have made transplants more successful than ever, the availability of suitable organs remains the biggest hurdle.
Medical professionals emphasise that every organ donor can save multiple lives, yet awareness and registration rates still lag behind what's needed to help everyone waiting.
A Message of Hope
Despite the emotional strain of his situation, the young man remains hopeful and uses his platform to encourage others to consider organ donation.
"I don't want pity - I want action," he stated firmly. "If sharing my story makes even one person register as a donor, then this waiting hasn't been in vain. Someone's tragic loss could be my second chance at life."
His courage in speaking out serves as a powerful reminder of the very real human stories behind organ donation statistics, and the lives that hang in the balance while waiting for that life-changing call.
