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Jennifer Grannell (on the right) lost her brother Richard (centre) due to the shortage of organ donors. Jennifer, like her brother, has Cystic Fibrosis and has recently undergone a double lung transplant.
My brother Richard Colin Grannell died aged 23 on the 5th of April 2005 after a three year wait on the Transplant list. Like me, he had Cystic Fibrosis and lived in hope that one day he would get a call that would change his life. Cystic Fibrosis is a progressive disease that had slowly robbed Richard of his freedom, independence and ability to live life to the full. A lung transplant offered a glimmer a hope, a chance that he would again be able to do the simple everyday tasks that others take for granted; laugh without spluttering, coughing and gasping for breath, bend down to pick up the post, watch a DVD without getting tired, walk down the road, teach our younger brother to drive, play golf with our dad and be dragged around the shops with me and my mum. Sadly he will never be able to do any of these things, because due to a shortage of organs that life saving call never came.
Waiting for the call was at times seemed unbearable; at first every time the phone rang we jumped...could this be it? I remember being scared to sleep at night, what if we didn’t hear the phone? As Richard became sicker, we kept up a quiet hope but were well aware that time was running out, yet still my brother continued to fight on with a great courage and dignity, he loved life so much and was determined to live. He had one false call in all the time he was waiting and I think that was perhaps the most devastating time of Richard’s long struggle, as we all felt that the call had been his last chance and final opportunity and it was such a torment to have been so close to a new life and see it fall away to nothing.
The last text I ever have from my brother was one he sent to me whilst I was on a weekend break with friends. It says, ‘have fun, be careful and don’t get too tired’ this was typical of Richard, worrying about his little sister whilst he was fighting for his life and struggling for every breath. As he slipped away I wished that I could magically find some lungs to save my wonderful brother, but it was not to be. The darkness that surrounded me after Richard’s death was all consuming; with time grief changes and I can remember fondly the good times we had and all the things he taught me about living well and dying with dignity. However, one of the hardest things to deal with is the constant thought that he would still be with us if there had been more organs. Our family are supporting LLTGL in memory of Richard and the battle he fought and because we do not want any other families to feel the pain and loss that we have. It is so important for more organ donors to come forward and for people to talk to the loved ones about their wishes with regards to organ donation. Please give a few minutes of your time and take a pro-active step – sign the organ donation register today.
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