My secret hero

[okarol]

My secret hero

THE family and friends of a man whose death helped others to live say they are so proud of their secret hero.

Jim Smith, 43, died after suffering a heart attack while out jogging earlier this year.

But unknown to his family, Jim was on the organ donor register and one of his kidneys was given to a 53-year-old man who had been on dialysis for four years, while the other went to a 36-year-old man with a young family.

Plus Jim's heart valves could be used to help new born babies with heart defects and his liver went to medical research.

Now Jim's partner, Caroline Kennedy, 41, has arranged a West Highland Way walk to gather cash for the The Transplant Trust as well as to remind people of the importance of donor cards.

Caroline said: "We are positive that wherever Jim is now he will be delighted to know he has been responsible for giving a better quality life to those involved.

"He was a very generous and selfless person and this carried through even after his death when we discovered he was on the organ donor register."

Jim, from Eaglesham, worked as a building surveyor for Charing Cross-based property management firm Hacking & Paterson where Caroline is a property manager.

He was originally from the Ayrshire village of Ochiltree and was step-dad to Caroline's two children Alasdair, 18, and Dylan, 14.

In February, Jim was out jogging close to home when Caroline, who had a feeling something was wrong, went out to look for him.

He had been complaining of a pain in his chest that morning which he had put down to heartburn. As Caroline caught up with him he suddenly collapsed.

She said: "One of my neighbours came to help me. I tried to say to Jim he would be okay but then he started fitting and I knew something was badly wrong. We phoned an ambulance and they talked me though CPR.

"My neighbour was giving him chest compressions and I was taking instructions over the phone. He opened his eyes at one point and hugged me. I believe that's when he died."

Jim was rushed to Hairmyres Hospital and kept on a ventilator for four days but his family eventually had to switch it off.

However, they were comforted by the knowledge that Jim's death has helped others live and have urged people to sign up to the organ donor register.

Around 60 people will take part in the walk this weekend which will cover the first 26 miles of the Way.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/jimsmith
To sign up to the register, visit www.uktransplant.org.uk

8:17am Thursday 4th June 2009

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/display.var.2512374.0.0.php