Episode 1

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0:00:04 > 0:00:06In Wales, around 200 people

0:00:06 > 0:00:08are currently waiting for an organ transplant.

0:00:09 > 0:00:12If I stop dialysis, I'd probably last a fortnight

0:00:12 > 0:00:14before I possibly die.

0:00:15 > 0:00:20On average, someone dies every 11 days on the waiting list.

0:00:20 > 0:00:24You'll have to go for the op, you've got to do it, you're going to die.

0:00:26 > 0:00:29Last year, Wales led the way in the UK

0:00:29 > 0:00:32and changed the law to presumed consent.

0:00:32 > 0:00:37It's a landmark day for Wales but it's a landmark day for people

0:00:37 > 0:00:39who are waiting for transplants.

0:00:39 > 0:00:42Now, it's assumed that we're all potential donors when we die...

0:00:45 > 0:00:48..unless we opt out or express such wishes to our loved ones.

0:00:50 > 0:00:53A single donor can change the lives of so many

0:00:53 > 0:00:57who are waiting for the call for the gift of life.

0:00:57 > 0:01:01Unless something drastic happens, I'm going to have my transplant.

0:01:03 > 0:01:06With unprecedented access to the transplant teams

0:01:06 > 0:01:08at the University Hospital of Wales,

0:01:08 > 0:01:13this series follows the incredible journey from one person's death,

0:01:13 > 0:01:16to others receiving the greatest gift.

0:01:33 > 0:01:34SHE COUGHS

0:01:34 > 0:01:4032-year-old Kimberly Chard has cystic fibrosis,

0:01:40 > 0:01:44a life-limiting condition which affects her lungs.

0:01:44 > 0:01:46SHE COUGHS

0:01:48 > 0:01:51She's currently on the waiting list for a double lung transplant.

0:01:54 > 0:01:56There you go, I'll finish that later.

0:01:56 > 0:01:59INTERVIEWER: How often do you have to do that?

0:01:59 > 0:02:03I do a couple of different nebulisers a day,

0:02:03 > 0:02:06so I do it about six times a day,

0:02:06 > 0:02:11including antibiotics that help me get the mucus off my chest.

0:02:12 > 0:02:15It's...it's pretty much exhausting.

0:02:15 > 0:02:18It's just knackering and every day's a chore.

0:02:18 > 0:02:20But, hopefully, I'm going to have a transplant,

0:02:20 > 0:02:22and I'll be able to breathe again.

0:02:23 > 0:02:24We just need that call, now.

0:02:24 > 0:02:28What if, you know, I don't make it, or I get taken off the list?

0:02:28 > 0:02:30We've had to talk about all that.

0:02:30 > 0:02:33It's not easy, but you have to do it.

0:02:36 > 0:02:37I don't want to be able to talk about that,

0:02:37 > 0:02:41I'd would rather plan things, I'd rather plan my future.

0:02:41 > 0:02:42But...

0:02:44 > 0:02:48I'm not in the position of just thinking about that, right now.

0:02:48 > 0:02:52So...it's vital that we get the call for a transplant

0:02:52 > 0:02:53as soon as possible.

0:02:59 > 0:03:01Kimberly's been on the waiting list for ten months.

0:03:03 > 0:03:05In order for her transplants to go ahead,

0:03:05 > 0:03:07someone has To donate their organs after they die.

0:03:13 > 0:03:17A year ago, organ donation in Wales changed.

0:03:17 > 0:03:21By law, we're now all potential donors unless we opt out.

0:03:22 > 0:03:24In the countdown to the change in legislation,

0:03:24 > 0:03:27the Welsh Government organised road shows across the country

0:03:27 > 0:03:30to help spread the message.

0:03:30 > 0:03:33Are you aware of the change in the organ donation law?

0:03:33 > 0:03:35- Yes.- Good. - Can I give you one of these?

0:03:35 > 0:03:37It's information on the new Organ Donation Act that's coming through

0:03:37 > 0:03:39next week on the new opt out system.

0:03:39 > 0:03:41- OK.- It gives you all the information there.

0:03:41 > 0:03:45For Robin Simpson, this is more than just publicity.

0:03:45 > 0:03:47I actually had a thought.

0:03:47 > 0:03:49I could be giving a leaflet to someone -

0:03:49 > 0:03:51I could have their kidney.

0:03:51 > 0:03:52Bizarre.

0:03:54 > 0:03:57I'm on a kidney transplant waiting list.

0:03:57 > 0:04:00- Are you?- Yes. And I work for the health department,

0:04:00 > 0:04:02so I volunteered to get involved.

0:04:02 > 0:04:04- Oh, right, yeah.- Yeah.

0:04:04 > 0:04:05Give my bit back.

0:04:05 > 0:04:08- Yeah. My son donated...- Did he?!

0:04:08 > 0:04:10..his organs when he died, so...

0:04:10 > 0:04:15Richard's heart recipient received a gold medal in the Transplant Games.

0:04:15 > 0:04:17- Did he?!- Yeah.

0:04:17 > 0:04:19Good God! Fantastic!

0:04:19 > 0:04:21So, how long have you been on the transplant list?

0:04:21 > 0:04:23Two and a half years on the waiting list.

0:04:23 > 0:04:26You're lucky in a way, if you're going to have an organ failure,

0:04:26 > 0:04:29kidney's the one to have because you've got the dialysis...

0:04:29 > 0:04:33- You've got two.- Yeah, and you've got dialysis to keep you going.

0:04:33 > 0:04:37With a heart, lung, or liver, there is no alternative.

0:04:37 > 0:04:38No.

0:04:38 > 0:04:40Hi, can I give you one of these?

0:04:44 > 0:04:46With presumed consent now law,

0:04:46 > 0:04:50everyone nearing death in a hospital environment in Wales

0:04:50 > 0:04:51is a potential organ donor.

0:04:54 > 0:04:55Critical care.

0:04:56 > 0:05:00The most seriously ill patients will inevitably spend time

0:05:00 > 0:05:02on the critical care unit.

0:05:02 > 0:05:06Bed one, now, 52-year-old man, traumatic head injury,

0:05:06 > 0:05:08no more seizure activity...

0:05:08 > 0:05:11Consultant intensivist Chris Hinkston

0:05:11 > 0:05:14is the regional clinical lead for organ donation in Wales.

0:05:14 > 0:05:16OK, so we should be able to wake him up today then?

0:05:16 > 0:05:19- Should be able to wake him up today, no problems at all.- OK, fine.

0:05:19 > 0:05:21A lot of our patients get better, but one in five of them,

0:05:21 > 0:05:23they won't survive their intensive care stay,

0:05:23 > 0:05:26and that's really where organ donation comes in

0:05:26 > 0:05:29as a part of usual, rather than unusual, end of life care.

0:05:29 > 0:05:33So it's really our job to approach all patients about organ donation.

0:05:33 > 0:05:35201 over...

0:05:36 > 0:05:38Diastolic at 80...

0:05:41 > 0:05:44This is last time. 35...

0:05:46 > 0:05:5067-year-old Bill has been admitted to the ward following a stroke.

0:05:52 > 0:05:55His daughter, Karen, and family are with him.

0:06:00 > 0:06:03They're not 100% sure what happened,

0:06:03 > 0:06:05whether there was a bleed to the brain, first, before the fall,

0:06:05 > 0:06:08or whether the bleed to the brain caused the fall,

0:06:08 > 0:06:10but he fell backwards and...

0:06:12 > 0:06:13..cracked his head.

0:06:14 > 0:06:15And...

0:06:15 > 0:06:18didn't really regain consciousness from that point.

0:06:34 > 0:06:36- Clever bird!- You got it?- Yeah.

0:06:38 > 0:06:42My dad, he was funny, he was kind,

0:06:42 > 0:06:46he had budgies when I was growing up and liked yo-yos.

0:06:50 > 0:06:54Since his admission, Bill's condition has worsened.

0:06:55 > 0:07:00The doctor showed us an X-ray of a normal brain

0:07:00 > 0:07:01and then they showed...

0:07:02 > 0:07:04..then they showed an X-ray of my dad's.

0:07:08 > 0:07:09And you could see the damage.

0:07:10 > 0:07:12And you could see it wasn't going to get better.

0:07:16 > 0:07:19Whilst Bill continues to be cared for on the unit,

0:07:19 > 0:07:22the medical team will find out what his end of life wishes are.

0:07:33 > 0:07:35Harefield Hospital, Middlesex...

0:07:36 > 0:07:38..and cystic fibrosis patient Kimberly

0:07:38 > 0:07:41has had an early Christmas present.

0:07:41 > 0:07:45We had a call from the transplant coordinators

0:07:45 > 0:07:49at nine...nice o'clock last night

0:07:49 > 0:07:53to come to the hospital because they found a matching donor.

0:07:53 > 0:07:56It's a good match and, unless something drastic happens,

0:07:56 > 0:07:58I'm going to have my transplant!

0:08:08 > 0:08:12Kimberly's lung transplant took the surgeons ten hours to complete.

0:08:16 > 0:08:18Without it, she may only have had months to live.

0:08:31 > 0:08:34- You feeling dizzy at all? OK to carry on?- Yeah.

0:08:41 > 0:08:44Kimberly's now undergoing intensive physiotherapy

0:08:44 > 0:08:47and husband Luke has been by her side throughout her recovery.

0:08:48 > 0:08:52On the first day, she could do ten, 15 steps.

0:08:52 > 0:08:54She did 45, so...!

0:08:56 > 0:08:57Yeah.

0:08:57 > 0:09:00She's doing all right, yeah.

0:09:00 > 0:09:03The lung transplant has transformed the young couple's lives.

0:09:09 > 0:09:12'I just can't believe it.

0:09:12 > 0:09:14'Just can't believe...'

0:09:16 > 0:09:17Sorry.

0:09:19 > 0:09:20- You OK?- Yeah.- Come here.

0:09:22 > 0:09:25- That feels like a lifetime ago. - I know, and...

0:09:25 > 0:09:27you know, just gasping, wasn't it?

0:09:27 > 0:09:28Gasping for breath.

0:09:30 > 0:09:33Just seeing myself, hoping it would happen...

0:09:34 > 0:09:38..and the relief that it has happened, so...

0:09:40 > 0:09:41Crying both times.

0:09:44 > 0:09:47Everything I've been through, all the pain and everything,

0:09:47 > 0:09:50it's all worth the future I'm going to have.

0:09:52 > 0:09:53Yeah.

0:09:54 > 0:09:57A person deciding to...

0:09:59 > 0:10:03..to give such a gift when they're gone is just...

0:10:05 > 0:10:07..just such a selfless gift.

0:10:09 > 0:10:12It means the world to me and to other people

0:10:12 > 0:10:14that lives have been saved, too.

0:10:25 > 0:10:28Someone who's still waiting for his life to change is Robin.

0:10:30 > 0:10:32He has kidney failure

0:10:32 > 0:10:34and has been waiting almost three years for a transplant.

0:10:39 > 0:10:43Robin's treatment involves dialysis to remove the toxins from his body.

0:10:44 > 0:10:48He's able to manage this himself - even at work.

0:10:48 > 0:10:50Do you want to see the actual...

0:10:50 > 0:10:54That's where the catheter goes into my peritoneum,

0:10:54 > 0:10:56and it ends up over here somewhere.

0:10:56 > 0:10:59And that's where it drains in and out, and nice little...

0:11:00 > 0:11:02..port, they call it, where they put the tube in.

0:11:02 > 0:11:04Just take that off.

0:11:04 > 0:11:06And that's it.

0:11:06 > 0:11:08That goes all the way into my peritoneum.

0:11:09 > 0:11:10Just add that...

0:11:17 > 0:11:20All right, that's the drain bag. That's where all the...

0:11:20 > 0:11:24..previous two litres I put in this morning comes out, and...

0:11:26 > 0:11:28..that's it, now, for 25 minutes.

0:11:29 > 0:11:34All the usual toxins that your kidneys would eject through urine

0:11:34 > 0:11:36is going into that.

0:11:38 > 0:11:41So, I carry my spare kidney round on a rucksack.

0:11:42 > 0:11:44So it's extremely restrictive.

0:11:44 > 0:11:46But it's keeping me alive, so...

0:11:46 > 0:11:50The alternative doesn't bear thinking about.

0:11:50 > 0:11:51And I can't go far, anyway,

0:11:51 > 0:11:55cos I've got to remain within an hour of the hospital

0:11:55 > 0:11:57in case I get the call, so...

0:11:57 > 0:12:00Yeah, every time, I say it's tedious, boring, gets on my nerves,

0:12:00 > 0:12:02but it's saving my life, so...

0:12:02 > 0:12:04But it is tedious.

0:12:05 > 0:12:08You know, my whole day revolves around,

0:12:08 > 0:12:10you know, doing the dialysis.

0:12:22 > 0:12:26On the critical care ward, Bill is showing no signs of recovery.

0:12:29 > 0:12:31It's now time for the medical team

0:12:31 > 0:12:34to raise the subject of organ donation with his family.

0:12:38 > 0:12:40I've had a look at him today, had a look at the scans.

0:12:40 > 0:12:43Given the extent of the brain injury that he's got,

0:12:43 > 0:12:47he wouldn't wanted to have... survived in that condition.

0:12:47 > 0:12:50I think, actually, there's no chance of him surviving,

0:12:50 > 0:12:53but, unusually, you've obviously approached us

0:12:53 > 0:12:56about the fact that he had very clear wishes about organ donation,

0:12:56 > 0:12:58you approached us about that.

0:12:58 > 0:13:01I know... I'd obviously like to introduce you to Michelle

0:13:01 > 0:13:03who's our specialist nurse for organ donation.

0:13:03 > 0:13:06She'll be able to answer all your questions I'm sure you have.

0:13:06 > 0:13:10- Is that the letter that you have? - Yeah, he registered the other week.

0:13:10 > 0:13:11The letter came this week.

0:13:12 > 0:13:14Oh, bless him.

0:13:18 > 0:13:22He wanted to do this, it was important to him.

0:13:22 > 0:13:24- Yeah.- That's all that matters.

0:13:24 > 0:13:27And what we'd be looking at, being able to donate,

0:13:27 > 0:13:29which would be liver,

0:13:29 > 0:13:31which, obviously, is going to save somebody's life,

0:13:31 > 0:13:35and kidneys, which would take two people off dialysis,

0:13:35 > 0:13:36so they're amazing gifts.

0:13:36 > 0:13:38I think it's a wonderful thing, though,

0:13:38 > 0:13:41in that he wanted to help others. I really do.

0:13:41 > 0:13:44It's the best thing, the best outcome under the circumstances.

0:13:44 > 0:13:47- Mm-hm.- He'd be thrilled.

0:13:58 > 0:14:00Dad had talked about organ donation.

0:14:00 > 0:14:03It was the last serious conversation that we'd had.

0:14:04 > 0:14:07Not knowing that, in a few weeks' time,

0:14:07 > 0:14:08that was going to have to happen.

0:14:09 > 0:14:12It was his decision, and...

0:14:14 > 0:14:17..I wasn't going to challenge it because it was his decision.

0:14:20 > 0:14:23Specialist nurse Emma will be overseeing the process.

0:14:23 > 0:14:26- All right? - He's ready.- He's ready, I think.

0:14:27 > 0:14:33So...when everything is ready, and we're ready to stop,

0:14:33 > 0:14:35one of the doctors will come in

0:14:35 > 0:14:39and they'll take the breathing tube out of his mouth. OK?

0:14:39 > 0:14:42When his heart stops, OK, we'll tell you.

0:14:42 > 0:14:44- If at any point you want us to stop...- No.

0:14:44 > 0:14:47I know that you don't, but I just have to make you...

0:14:47 > 0:14:49- You know, this is still... - It's what he wants.

0:14:49 > 0:14:51It is what he wants.

0:14:51 > 0:14:53And you're doing a very amazing, brave thing for him.

0:14:55 > 0:14:58- He's doing it. Not me. - I know. But you're helping him.

0:15:11 > 0:15:13- Is that all right?- Yeah.

0:15:16 > 0:15:19INAUDIBLE

0:15:39 > 0:15:42'It was OK until they turned all the machines off.'

0:15:42 > 0:15:45I think I would have coped with it a lot...

0:15:46 > 0:15:51..a lot worse if I hadn't have had the transplant to focus on.

0:15:51 > 0:15:56It's like he still had a job to do even though he couldn't do anything.

0:15:56 > 0:16:01He was still doing something, he was looking after those organs

0:16:01 > 0:16:03until they could be given to somebody else.

0:16:14 > 0:16:16Someone who received such a generous gift

0:16:16 > 0:16:19from an anonymous donor is Kimberly.

0:16:21 > 0:16:23- Hi!- Hi.- How are you?

0:16:23 > 0:16:26She's about to undergo a test to check

0:16:26 > 0:16:29how well her newly transplanted lungs are working.

0:16:29 > 0:16:31Just nice and gentle breathing for me.

0:16:31 > 0:16:34When you're ready, sharp breath all the way in...

0:16:34 > 0:16:37Blast it out. Keep it going, keep it going,

0:16:37 > 0:16:40keep it going, keep it going, keep it going...

0:16:40 > 0:16:43When you're empty, breathe in. Well done.

0:16:43 > 0:16:45Kimberly's cystic fibrosis has meant

0:16:45 > 0:16:49she's rarely had a lung capacity of more than 30%.

0:16:49 > 0:16:50It's looking good.

0:16:50 > 0:16:54There's definitely a good increase compared to last time.

0:16:54 > 0:16:55That was you...

0:16:56 > 0:16:58..in August.

0:16:58 > 0:17:00What percent lung function have I got now, then?

0:17:00 > 0:17:02So, you're working with 71...

0:17:02 > 0:17:06and 67%.

0:17:06 > 0:17:07Oh, my God! That's a massive change.

0:17:07 > 0:17:11- I'm happy that you've got your transplant.- Thank you.

0:17:11 > 0:17:13All right, lovely, that's you all done.

0:17:13 > 0:17:16Can't ever remember having a lung function that good.

0:17:16 > 0:17:17I don't think I have.

0:17:19 > 0:17:21So...I'm in shock!

0:17:21 > 0:17:23Really shocked.

0:17:23 > 0:17:25- INTERVIEWER: Are you pleased? - Yeah, so pleased.

0:17:27 > 0:17:29- All right, lovely. - Pretty much amazed.

0:17:29 > 0:17:31- I'm happy for you.- Thank you.

0:17:34 > 0:17:38Time to check in with her consultant, Dr Martin Carby.

0:17:39 > 0:17:43There's a chest X-ray before your operation.

0:17:43 > 0:17:45There are lots of shadows in this X-ray,

0:17:45 > 0:17:48there are lines, and there are rings here,

0:17:48 > 0:17:50and there's some mottled shadowing,

0:17:50 > 0:17:54which are all indications of widened airways,

0:17:54 > 0:17:55which have clogged with mucus,

0:17:55 > 0:17:58which is the problem that you've had before your transplant.

0:17:58 > 0:18:02And if you compare that to...

0:18:02 > 0:18:06your CT scan that you've just had of your new lungs,

0:18:06 > 0:18:10the appearance of those lungs is much more uniformly black,

0:18:10 > 0:18:13filled with air without great big holes in them.

0:18:13 > 0:18:15That's crazy.

0:18:15 > 0:18:18But it's much more healthy-looking lung tissue

0:18:18 > 0:18:20as opposed to looking a bit like Swiss cheese,

0:18:20 > 0:18:22which your old lungs did.

0:18:23 > 0:18:25- OK?- Yeah.

0:18:26 > 0:18:28- I'm really happy for you.- Thank you.

0:18:33 > 0:18:36- Yeah.- OK. I'll leave you to have some time together.

0:18:37 > 0:18:39- I'll see you before you go again. - OK, thanks.

0:18:39 > 0:18:41- All right. Bye-bye for now. - See you.

0:18:41 > 0:18:43God. That's crazy, isn't it?

0:18:45 > 0:18:47- You OK?- Yeah.

0:18:47 > 0:18:50She's just done fantastically, really. I'm so happy for her.

0:18:50 > 0:18:53She's, you know, just a few weeks after her operation

0:18:53 > 0:18:54and she's going home,

0:18:54 > 0:18:57and hopefully this is just the start of a new life for her.

0:18:57 > 0:19:00I think the change in arrangements for organ donation in Wales

0:19:00 > 0:19:03will potentially have a very positive effect,

0:19:03 > 0:19:07and hopefully we'll see a continuing increase in organ donation,

0:19:07 > 0:19:11which will allow my team to carry on

0:19:11 > 0:19:13giving people the benefits that we've seen for Kim.

0:19:13 > 0:19:16THEY CHUCKLE

0:19:19 > 0:19:24After her life-changing surgery, Kimberly is finally leaving hospital

0:19:24 > 0:19:27and will continue her rehabilitation at home.

0:19:32 > 0:19:36At the University Hospital of Wales, a special delivery has arrived.

0:19:38 > 0:19:41It's a donor kidney for transplantation.

0:19:43 > 0:19:44Looks reasonable.

0:19:46 > 0:19:50I understand it had a very good function in the donor, so...

0:19:50 > 0:19:54This kidney has been best matched to a recipient.

0:19:54 > 0:19:56And it's good news for Robin.

0:19:56 > 0:19:58I was just about to go to lunch

0:19:58 > 0:20:00and I stood up, tightening my shoelaces up,

0:20:00 > 0:20:04and the phone went and told me, "We may have a kidney for you."

0:20:04 > 0:20:09I went straight into panic mode and literally just logged off from work

0:20:09 > 0:20:12and told my colleagues, "I'll see you either tomorrow,

0:20:12 > 0:20:14"if it doesn't go...go ahead,

0:20:14 > 0:20:16"or in two months' time," so...

0:20:16 > 0:20:18I'm going to have my normality back in my life.

0:20:20 > 0:20:22You know, not tied to dialysis,

0:20:22 > 0:20:25going back and forward every four hours.

0:20:25 > 0:20:27So, yeah, mixed emotions.

0:20:28 > 0:20:29Blind panic, mainly.

0:20:32 > 0:20:36Performing the transplant today is consultant surgeon Mike Stevens.

0:20:36 > 0:20:38Won't be long, we'll just get back downstairs

0:20:38 > 0:20:40to just set one or two things up.

0:20:40 > 0:20:42- Right.- And then we'll come up for you, so...- OK.

0:20:42 > 0:20:44- Ten minutes or so, I suspect.- OK. - All right?- OK.

0:20:44 > 0:20:46And we'll have a chat with you afterwards.

0:20:46 > 0:20:50- OK. No gin and tonic before? - Best not. For me, or you?

0:20:50 > 0:20:51Both!

0:20:52 > 0:20:53Probably best not for me.

0:20:55 > 0:20:57- Yeah. OK, thanks, Mike. - See you a bit later, then, OK?

0:20:57 > 0:20:59Yeah, OK. Cheers.

0:21:00 > 0:21:06He was similar to what we usually see with transplant patients,

0:21:06 > 0:21:10that sort of mix of apprehension and excitement.

0:21:11 > 0:21:13Always tends to be very nervous.

0:21:15 > 0:21:19Most of the time been waiting quite a long time for this day to come.

0:21:24 > 0:21:28One generous benefactor can save and transform up to nine lives

0:21:28 > 0:21:30through the gift of organ donation.

0:21:34 > 0:21:36It's a decision that Bill's family have made,

0:21:36 > 0:21:39and the surgical team are now in place for retrieval.

0:21:40 > 0:21:43Fusion's on. OK, it's running well.

0:21:43 > 0:21:47Specialist nurse Emma will be coordinating in theatre.

0:21:49 > 0:21:51His kidneys have been accepted.

0:21:51 > 0:21:54I think his family are just happy that he can do anything, so...

0:21:54 > 0:21:57that's...that's good.

0:21:57 > 0:21:59I just spoke to her, so she knows that.

0:22:01 > 0:22:02Left kidney's out.

0:22:06 > 0:22:07Ureters?

0:22:08 > 0:22:10Branches tied?

0:22:10 > 0:22:12No branches tied...

0:22:13 > 0:22:14OK. Left kidney.

0:22:16 > 0:22:18Knowing somebody else is going to get help, as well, you know,

0:22:18 > 0:22:20and they're going to receive a kidney,

0:22:20 > 0:22:22just makes it all, all the...

0:22:22 > 0:22:24you know, the work that we do, it makes it worth it.

0:22:25 > 0:22:26Right kidney.

0:22:28 > 0:22:29Right kidney.

0:22:30 > 0:22:34In the UK, there are around 6,500 patients

0:22:34 > 0:22:35on waiting lists for organs.

0:22:37 > 0:22:40Today, two of them will receive some incredible news.

0:22:40 > 0:22:42They probably would've been getting a phone call

0:22:42 > 0:22:44first thing this morning to say, "Come to hospital."

0:22:44 > 0:22:46You know, "We've found you a kidney donor."

0:22:46 > 0:22:48And so, yeah, life-changing for these people,

0:22:48 > 0:22:50absolutely life-changing.

0:22:51 > 0:22:52Two bags.

0:22:54 > 0:22:56The kidneys will now travel to the recipients

0:22:56 > 0:22:59and be transplanted within a few hours.

0:23:01 > 0:23:04It's all only possible because of Bill's gift.

0:23:06 > 0:23:08It's made losing him easier because it's like...

0:23:10 > 0:23:12..something good has come out of it.

0:23:12 > 0:23:15And I can't think of any other circumstance

0:23:15 > 0:23:19where someone dies that something good comes out of it.

0:23:19 > 0:23:23It's quite a negative final thing,

0:23:23 > 0:23:25whereas for Dad,

0:23:25 > 0:23:27it still doesn't feel final

0:23:27 > 0:23:30because parts of him are living on in someone else.

0:23:35 > 0:23:38DRUMBEATS

0:23:38 > 0:23:42That's my alarm. "Take your meds!"

0:23:42 > 0:23:45In Bargoed, Kimberly's getting used to life at home

0:23:45 > 0:23:47with her new lungs and drugs regime.

0:23:49 > 0:23:51- Just find them all! - SHE CHUCKLES

0:23:57 > 0:24:00Going to dedicate an hour or two to do it.

0:24:01 > 0:24:02Organise everything.

0:24:06 > 0:24:08Lost the next one. Oh, there we go.

0:24:09 > 0:24:13I'm diabetic through cystic fibrosis as well.

0:24:14 > 0:24:20My liver disease hasn't changed since I was a kid, luckily.

0:24:20 > 0:24:24And then we've got the anti-rejections.

0:24:26 > 0:24:30So, every day I take my anti-rejections at 10am and 10pm.

0:24:32 > 0:24:35It's important to make sure that you take them at regular times.

0:24:35 > 0:24:38And that's all of them.

0:24:38 > 0:24:40Well, that's all of the tablets, anyway.

0:24:40 > 0:24:43- INTERVIEWER: Is that just for today? - Yeah, that's just today's.

0:24:46 > 0:24:49I think a lot of people, when I've had my transplant,

0:24:49 > 0:24:51have just thought, "Oh, so you're cured now?"

0:24:51 > 0:24:54And it's not that. You've got to maintain...

0:24:54 > 0:24:57you've got to maintain yourself and you've got to keep yourself well,

0:24:57 > 0:24:59you've got to keep doing the treatments,

0:24:59 > 0:25:01and take care of yourself, really.

0:25:01 > 0:25:04It's not just...it's not just an easy fix -

0:25:04 > 0:25:06it's a lot of hard work.

0:25:06 > 0:25:10But you go into its knowing that you've got to do that.

0:25:10 > 0:25:13It's the simple joys of life that you miss out on, and...

0:25:15 > 0:25:20..you only realise when you're feeling well enough that,

0:25:20 > 0:25:22"God, I couldn't have done this before."

0:25:22 > 0:25:26And it does hit you a bit hard, so... Yeah.

0:25:42 > 0:25:44Morris, please?

0:25:44 > 0:25:47Consultant surgeon Mike Stevens is an hour into

0:25:47 > 0:25:49transplanting Robin's new kidney.

0:25:51 > 0:25:52Forceps.

0:25:54 > 0:25:57What we've done so far, we've just prepared the vessels

0:25:57 > 0:26:00that we're going to put this onto, essentially, and...

0:26:00 > 0:26:05we...we'll get the kidney we prepared earlier and...

0:26:08 > 0:26:10It's like a cooking show, isn't it?

0:26:19 > 0:26:21Try and keep the timing short as we can.

0:26:24 > 0:26:27So we stitched the vein to the vein to begin with,

0:26:27 > 0:26:32and then the kidney artery onto Robin's artery.

0:26:33 > 0:26:36And once we've done that, we'll release the blood into the kidney,

0:26:36 > 0:26:39so we'll perfuse the kidney again, we'll see how it looks.

0:26:43 > 0:26:47- OK, time down, time of reperfusion. - 8:45.- I'll hold it.

0:26:48 > 0:26:50It looks quite nice.

0:26:50 > 0:26:53So we like to see a nice sort of uniform pink colour

0:26:53 > 0:26:56all way around the kidney, which we've got here.

0:26:56 > 0:26:58Looks pretty good so far.

0:27:01 > 0:27:03So the kidney's now got a blood supply.

0:27:03 > 0:27:06The last bit for us to do is to join the ureter,

0:27:06 > 0:27:09the water pipe up to the bladder.

0:27:09 > 0:27:12May have a bit of urine there, actually, which is a good sign.

0:27:22 > 0:27:25Often a bit sleepy to begin with, these types of kidneys, but...

0:27:26 > 0:27:29..in the longer term it should function well.

0:27:30 > 0:27:32It's going to make a big difference to Robin.

0:27:33 > 0:27:36This is what organ donation is about.

0:27:36 > 0:27:40I think it's really difficult for people to understand...

0:27:40 > 0:27:43the difference that it makes until you see people like Robin,

0:27:43 > 0:27:45and you see the difference that it makes to them,

0:27:45 > 0:27:47and you see what life looks like for them before

0:27:47 > 0:27:49and then how it changes afterwards.

0:27:49 > 0:27:51And you can only appreciate that really

0:27:51 > 0:27:54by seeing the other half of the story, so...

0:27:58 > 0:28:00Since the change in the law a year ago in Wales,

0:28:00 > 0:28:04there has already been a significant increase in the consent rate

0:28:04 > 0:28:07for organs available to change lives.

0:28:33 > 0:28:36Nothing's going to make up for losing my dad.

0:28:36 > 0:28:37He's always been my hero.

0:28:38 > 0:28:40Even more so now.