In November 2012, without warning, I collapsed at work. After an ECG showed nothing worrying, Paramedics told me it was a panic attack, but took me to a local hospital as a precaution. The next morning Doctors decided to carry out an additional scan just to cover all bases and discovered I actually had major heart failure. I was admitted to Harefield Hospital and placed on the urgent transplant list until a matching donor came up. I was 29 years old, married and with a 19 month old son. I suddenly had to face the idea of Kate having to bring Charlie up without me and Charlie never really knowing his father.

On March 30th 2013 I was lucky enough to receive a donor heart and have been steadily recovering since. Whilst transplantees have a life of medication ahead of them, we come through the first few years after surgery with more determination than ever to make the most of every day. We live our lives to the full in honour of our donor and their families for making the ultimate gift to us, and don't let anything hold us back.

We have since found out that my son has the same genetic mutation I have so we will have to keep a close eye on him as he grows. Whilst the treatment behind these life saving surgeries has been refined over the years, the single biggest issue facing patients requiring a transplant is a shortage of available organs.

The thought of my son requiring a transplant in the future and the only thing stopping him from getting the treatment he might need being a shortage of donors is truly terrifying. Such a life changing problem could be solved so easily just by people understanding what being a donor means to those who are saved. If somebody is unlucky enough to pass away, then it must be such a peaceful thought to know that such tragedy can also bring life... Their heart can still beat and their lungs can still breathe in fresh air.

1 in 5 people die while waiting for a suitable organ to become available. This is mainly due to the fact that only 30% of the UK are registered in the Organ Donor Register with many having simply "not got round to doing it".

By joining a team of heart and lung transplant recipients to climb Cotopaxi (which stands 5897 metres tall) and set a new world record for the highest altitude reached by  patients after these life changing surgeries, we are trying to make people aware just how precious their ultimate gift could be and that not only could you save a life but also change the lives of those people who in some cases have had debilitating illnesses for years whilst waiting for matching organs.

After the surgery not only can we lead normal lives, but we can achieve incredible things.

We are also trying to raise money to purchase some Organ Care Systems which can be used to transport organs whilst warm blood continues to be pumped around them. Using the traditional method of packing the organ in ice only gives a window of 3-4 hours between being removed from the donor and being transplanted into the recipient before the organ is useless. The OCS increases this window to at least 12 hours which not only makes organs which are more than 3 hours away from a matching recipient able to be used, but effectively increases the number of organs available, just like more people registering to be a donor would. More info about the OCS can be found here...

http://www.transmedics.com/wt/page/organ_care 

The combination of raising awareness of what can be achieved after receiving an organ, and the OCS system will save many lives. It saved my life... I was part of the trial for the OCS system with the equipment used being funded by this charity and some of the other people going on the expedition with me.

My donor's heart came from too far away for ice to be used. Other transplant recipients raised money to buy an OCS system... Which was used to save my life... Now I can climb mountains with those people to keep the awareness increasing and to buy some more OCS systems to pass the amazing gift on. As a group we are aiming to raise £120,000. My individual target is an ambitious £10,000. Whatever you can afford will soon add up and be greatly appreciated.

Incredible things can happen when you give your heart.

Thank you so much for your support.

James