Leamington pupils meet transplant survivor at Coventry University Hospital

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Leamington pupils meet transplant survivor at Coventry University Hospital
Feb 9 2011

PUPILS were given a face-to-face lesson about kidney failure when they met a transplant survivor at University Hospital in Coventry.

The pupils from North Leamington School were given a tour of the kidney unit to see how patients are given dialysis to keep their organs working until a donor is found.

They also met Clive Frost, who was given a kidney by his son Tom in a live transplant operation last year. Clive, from Ash Green, told the students that for two years before the operation he spent 12 hours every week hooked up to dialysis machines in a hospital bed.

The 59-year-old said: “I hope my experience will help them understand the importance of organ donation and transplantation.”

“I’d encourage more schools and colleges to get on board about getting important messages about organ donation to pupils at a young age.”

The 15 and 16-year-olds are all studying health and social care at school with a view to pursuing a career in health care.

They were shown how dialysis filters toxins and waste from the blood when the kidneys no longer can.

Many of the students were shocked and amazed by what they saw.

Jonathan Noble, from Leamington, wants to work in medicine and said he found the visit particularly exciting and useful.

goes on behind the scenes of dialysis.”

Specialist donor nurse Roz Watkins led the tour of the kidney unit.

She said it was imperative for young people to understand why they should make a decision about organ donation and discuss it with their parents.

There is always a need for organ donors but there is a chronic shortage from Black and South Asian backgrounds.

Organ donors offer sick patients the chance of a longer, healthier and happier life.

There are currently around 170 patients in Coevntry and Warwickshire waiting for a transplant.

To join the donor register call 0300 123 23 23.

Read More http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2011/02/09/leamington-pupils-meet-transplant-survivor-at-coventry-university-hospital-92746-28141259/#ixzz1DXdxpCE0