‘Robert’s Already Got Loads More Energy’

By Madeleine Brindley; Katie Bodinger

THE DAD of a teenager who has had a life-saving kidney transplant after waiting two and a half years has spoken of his joy.

Robert Edwards, 13, is recovering "remarkably well" after his operation last month, his dad Paul says.

His story comes as Health Minister Edwina Hart said presumed consent, where everyone is considered as a potential organ donor, is still under "active consideration" for Wales.

Robert is the face of the Donate Wales campaign, which aims to increase the number of people signed up to give their organs after their death.

Speaking from his home in Dinas Powys, Robert’s dad Paul, married to Jayne, said: "Sometimes we don’t believe it’s happened.

"We had the call on bank holiday Monday. He had the operation on the Tuesday evening.

"It’s hard to explain the emotions that go through you – joy, happiness, relief andasenseofdisbelief that after all this time it has actually happened."

It is thought Robert’s kidneys became irreversibly damaged after a virus when he was three. Until the operation, he was having to have 10 hours of dialysis every night.

Paul, 53, a worker for BT, said Robert, who enjoys camping, playing tennis and is a keen Scout, was already showing signs of improvement.

"It’s early days. He’s not completely out of the woods. But he’s already got loads more energy – he’s buzzing."

The Edwards family’s joy comes as the mum of a skating champion whose organs saved lives after his death welcomed the announcement yesterday by Health Minister Edwina Hart the she hadnot shut the door on changing the law in favour of presumed consent, meaning people would havetoopt out from the organs of dead relatives being donated.

Gaynor, who lives in Barry, started campaigning for organ donation after her 23-year-old son Richarddied in an accident while skating.

Unknown to either her or her late husband John, Richardhadregistered as an organ donor.

The couple gave permission for his organs to be used and he helped to save the lives of several other people after his death in 2004.

Mrs Hart said presumed consent is still under "active consideration" in Wales, despite an influential National Assembly committee rejecting the idea.

Gaynor said: "Inaway this keeps the debate going and this is something that needs to be debated – people need to be educated about what it means.

"A lot of people fear that it means that their organs will be taken willy-nilly, but it’s not."

Switching to a system of presumed consent would mean that everyone would be considered as a potential organ donor after their death unless they had opted out and registered their objection.

Families and loved ones would still be consulted about organ donation.

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