NHS Grampian has commissioned a documentary to highlight the impact organ donation can have on the lives of transplant recipients and donor families.
The film will be on permanent display at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and has been created by the health board to mark the start of organ donation week.
Filmmaker Tucker Tangeman spoke to donor families, the people who have had their lives changed by a transplant, and the clinicians who support them.
One of those featured is local artist Brian Keeley, who suffered a serious heart attack in 2013 and spent 101 days in intensive care at the Golden Jubilee hospital before receiving a heart transplant.
Mr Keeley and his wife channelled their experiences into an exhibition called The Shared Heart, which has been shown at ARI.
He said: “I’m alive today because someone, somewhere, had added their name to the organ donor register and their family supported that decision.
“I went from contemplating my own mortality to realising that I might have a future after all.
“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of the clinical professionals involved in the field of transplant and donation, and to the organ donor whose heart now beats within me.”
Harry Bruce, from Aberdeen, lost his son Stuart in 2017.
Mr Bruce did not know his son had signed up to the organ donation register.
After some initial concerns, Harry and his wife Sadie gave their consent and Stuart’s kidneys, lungs and a heart valve were donated.
Harry said: “I was stunned when I realised Stuart had put his name on the register, as he’d never said anything to us.
“I wasn’t sure but Sadie pointed out that it could be one of us waiting for a donor, so we went ahead with it.
“We still miss Stuart terribly but we do take some comfort from knowing others are living a healthy life, thanks to him.”
With the upcoming change in the law on organ donation in Scotland, throughout the week there will an information stall at the rotunda entrance to ARI, with organ donation ambassadors on hand to answer questions.
Rhona Atkinson, acting chairwoman of NHS Grampian and chairwoman of the organ donation committee, said: “This film is the exciting culmination of a project our committee has been working on for some time.
“A space in the hospital has long been held for an installation to commemorate organ donors.
“We considered a whole range of projects until we hit on the idea of a film.
“The personal testimony of those who have received a transplant and those who make the very difficult decision to allow organ donation is incredibly powerful.”
