We made UK history!

On the 27th of November not only did I hear that the transplant operation was a success, but also that it was the first of it's kind the United Kingdom!

According to the Human Tissue Authority (HTA)'s Code of Conduct (which can be found here), and is summarised below, there are two basic types of living organ donation:

Types of living organ donation:

1.  Directed donation: A form of donation where a healthy person donates an organ (usually a kidney) or part organ (for example liver or lung lobe) to a specific recipient. The recipient could be known to the donor (in the case of genetically or emotionally related donation) or unknown to the donor (in the case of paired donation).

• genetically related donation: where the potential donor is a blood relative of the potential recipient

• emotionally related donation: where the potential donor has a relationship with the potential recipient, for example, spouse, partner, or close friend

• paired donation: where a relative, friend or partner is fit and able to donate an organ but is incompatible with the potential recipient, and they are matched with another donor and recipient in a similar situation, so that both people in need of a transplant receive a compatible organ

• pooled donation: a form of paired donation whereby the pair are matched with other donors and recipients from a pool of pairs in similar situations, and more than two donors and two recipients are involved in the swap, so that more than two people in need of a transplant receive a compatible organ

2.  Altruistic non-directed donation: A form of living donation whereby an organ (usually a kidney) or part organ (for example liver or lung lobe) is donated by a healthy person who does not have a relationship with the recipient and who is not informed whom the recipient will be.

Seeing as I had only met Pieter twice before offering to donate my kidney to him, I technically did not have a relationship with him therefor it could not be a Directed donation. It could also not be an Altruistic non-directed donation seeing as we do know each other. What swayed the HTA was the fact that we had grown to become very good friends in the 3 months of tests and built an emotional relationship. On this basis it was approved as a Directed Altruistic donation.

A situation like this has never occurred in the UK, and was not allowed by the HTA until now, because it's would encourage the unlawful sale of organs.  Thankfully they saw the sincerity of my donation and approved it, making my Directed Altruistic donation the first of it's kind in the UK!