Episode 4 An Focal Scoir

When they asked me whether to donate Frasier's organs

I didn't have to think,

because I knew what they both would have wanted me to do.

The department has initiated

a review of gambling law in Northern Ireland.

This has not yet reached any conclusions,

as regards potential changes to existing legislation.

Do you think that there is a problem here, with gambling,

in Northern Ireland?

That's very funny, because my name is Gamble,

but I've never gambled in my life.

Not even a cheeky scratchcard, no?

No, I've no idea even how to buy one.

I do see lots of people going in and out of bookies.

And I know that you can go online now,

and they encourage you to do that

because they give you a £10 free bet.

So I think people could get addicted to it.

There is probably a problem, yeah. I'd say it's just with more devices,

more mobile phones being used,

I suppose, the internet being accessed.

So I'd say it's a worldwide problem -

not just in Northern Ireland.

But, yeah, it's on the increase.

The online gambling is a huge issue. That's where the serious problem is.

I know about people who go home at night, late at night,

and into the computer and put all their money in.

That's a serious problem,

and I think there should be something done about that.

-Anna Louise, how's things?

-Hi.

The boys had just the most amazing way about them.

Once met, never forgotten.

Stew had a way of making you feel awesome

within about two minutes of meeting him.

Frasier, he had, as I would say, the biggest heart.

He made everybody love him.

They were just amazing.

I can't even begin to imagine a loss like that.

Did you and your husband Stewart have a conversation

about organ donation prior to the accident?

We had quite a frank conversation about it,

seeing the good that had happened from the donation

of one of our friends' child's organs.

And, you know, I've got to be honest in this regard -

I was sat there going, "I don't want to talk about this.

"I don't want to talk about organ donation."

I don't want to have this conversation

over what I saw as being quite a taboo subject.

But we did.

So when they asked me whether to donate Frasier's organs,

I didn't have to think,

because I knew what they both would have wanted me to do.

It became quite clear after the donation of Frasier's organs

that we wanted to do something to assist with organ donation promotion

and support in Wales overall.

And we've looked at trying to instil

a lot more in our education system in Wales.

Robin, what was life like for you

before you received your kidney transplant?

It was extremely restrictive.

Basically, you have a catheter going into your peritoneum,

where you drain a glucose substance liquid into it,

and, by osmosis, draws off the toxins, and you drain it away again.

So, you can imagine, every three or four hours,

you had to think about going home to do the dialysis.

And that was seven days a week.

And I was on that for two years, two months.

Not only that, I had to stay within an hour's drive to the hospital,

cos if you get the call for the transplant,

you've got an hour to get there.

-So, three years on the waiting list, waiting for that phone call.

-Yeah.

It must have been difficult at times.

Yeah, I had to have counselling because I was so anxious it was causing depression -

it was like a vicious circle.

But, on the bright side, I suppose, it saved my life.

Kidney failure is one of the few organ donation failures where

they can keep you going for years, if not decades, through dialysis.

So, really, I'm one of the lucky ones that that's what I had.

And when that day came, when you received your kidney transplant,

what did that feel like?

That was a complete emotional rollercoaster.

Blind panic, terror and excitement all rolled into one.

Your thoughts have got to go to the donor's family, because without them

I'd still be on dialysis, so it's a big thank you.

Every day I'm aware of the gift they've given.

I had the most ultimate gift of life in having Frasier.

And by him, then...

..passing so early,

he's managed to give the gift of life to another four people.

And that's what's important.

This is a gift, and we should talk about it.

Well, opt-in is you have a choice,

if you die, if your organs are donated or not.

I don't know what soft opt-in or out is.

I suppose it is very important that you would have the conversation.

But I suppose, like many people,

it's something you don't really want to, maybe, talk about.

You know, there could be a certain sort of taboo

within families in mentioning it, really.

Interestingly, the numbers of living donors are going up every year

in Northern Ireland.

So, actually, the rate last year was up to 40 per million of population,

which is well over twice what is being achieved

anywhere else in the UK,

and is the highest rate in Europe.

In terms of the deceased donation rate,

Northern Ireland also are at the top of the league,

in terms of the UK regions.

Last year, 47 people in Northern Ireland donated an organ,

at least one organ,

and sometimes many organs, when they were passing away.

I think the opt-out system should, if it's introduced,

reflect the consensus and the will of the people of Northern Ireland.

So there should be a consensus,

there should be a feeling amongst people

and amongst the general population that this is the right thing to do.

I think if it's imposed on people,

it could potentially be counterproductive.

The difference you can make is enormous,

so certainly our feeling would be that no-one will ever

forcibly take away your organs from you,

but actually, if you have come to the end of your life,

but you've got very good organs,

you have the possibility of making a huge impact

in many other people's lives,

and I think if people understood just the difference they could make,

they would be much more encouraged to sign up on the register,

and certainly we'd be encouraging people to do that.