New figures released today have revealed the heroic decisions made by families in Cumbria whose loved ones became organ donors after they died.
Information shared by the NHS Blood and Transplant service shows eight people in the county went on to save the lives of countless others as deceased donors.
Now, the father of a toddler who died while waiting for a new heart has praised their decision, while urging the government to introduce an 'opt out' system in England as soon as possible.
Lee Wealleans, 36, lost brave Mackenzie just days before his second birthday seven years ago.
He said his son had 'rewritten the rulebook' on what could be achieved by critically ill children as he fought for life while his name was at the top of an international organ donation list for 60 days.
Mr Wealleans, who now lives in Penrith with wife Shelley, said: "It's just so important that we get an opt out system in this country.
"It could save so many lives.
"I'm so proud of my son and all he achieved. He showed he had fight in him that no-one could believe.
"I asked at the time how many people had died in this country who would have been a match for Mackenzie, and no-one could tell me. But we all knew what the answer was likely to be.
"Becoming an organ donor is an incredible thing to do for the donors themselves and the families who choose to give other people a chance at life while they are suffering such a terrible loss themselves.
"An opt out system would be better, and we need this to be introduced as soon as possible."
The NHS Blood and Donation service states Cumbria has seen an increase in the number of donors in the last ten years.
However, 40 people in the county are currently on the waiting list.
The service's annual Transplant Activity Report, out today, shows there was a record number of organ donors nationally last year, with 1,574 people saving lives through deceased organ donation.
However an overall shortage of donors remains and there is an urgent need for more people to support donation.
Around three people die a day as they wait for an organ.
But many people have never told their relatives they want to save lives or that they have signed the organ donor register.
Letting your family know that you want to donate will make it much easier for them to support what their loved one wanted, said Sally Johnson, director of the service.
She added: "We’re incredibly grateful to all the families in Cumbria who have chosen to say yes to organ donation.
"Organ donation is the only hope for many desperately ill people.
"We know many families feel a sense of pride and comfort from their decision to save lives through organ donation.
"We want more people to have that opportunity."
The annual report also demonstrates how the ageing population means the average age of potential donors is increasing.
The average age of donors in Cumbria during the 2017 calendar year was 58.
But age is no barrier to becoming a donor, Ms Johnson explained, with residents over the age of 50 urged to sign the register and tell family members of their wishes.
She added: "We need more people aged over 50 in Cumbria to support donation. “People in older age groups can still save and transform lives through organ and tissue donation.
"Many more lives could be saved by telling their families they want to donate."
This country has an opt in system for people to become organ donors in the event of their death.
Anyone who would like to give others a chance of life should tragedy strike should add their name to the national organ donor register by visiting www.organdonation.nhs.uk
But they must also make their intentions clear to family members.
These are the people who will have the final say over whether their loved one's organs can be donated at the crucial moment.
This can be a difficult concept for parents, partners, siblings and other family members to consent to during an unimaginably difficult time.
:: 1,574 people saved lives by becoming deceased donors last year
:: There are around 6,500 people on the waiting list
:: Of these, 40 are in Cumbria
:: 40 people in the county have died in the last ten years while waiting for a transplant
:: Around 196,000 residents in Cumbria are on the organ donor register - about 39 per cent of the population
:: Fewer people aged 50 and over sign up, with many believing they are too old. But age or ill health is not a barrier to becoming a donor.
The government is in the process of considering whether to introduce an opt out system for organ donation in England.
If it goes ahead, everyone would be presumed to be in favour of donating their organs in the event of their death unless they had specifically indicated their objection to it.
A national consultation on the issue was launched in December with the responses now being analysed by officials.
Scotland has already announced it is to introduce an opt out system in a bid to increase the number of people whose lives could be saved.
A formal response from Westminster is awaited.
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