Hi
My name is Dianne, I am in the process of sorting Len's yahoo groups
out and came across this group, here is an extract from one of Lens
archive mails from this group.

<<Hi Fred,

As I see it, at the moment in this country the donors family have to
agree
to the organs being used for transplantation, the Doctors can't take
the
organs without their permission, the Card is only on object that
expresses
the wishes of the donor, If they were as legal as a will then the
relatives
permission wouldn't be needed.

I have been on dialysis for over six years, I've had Cancer (13 years
ago)
and have other health problems. I have been told that I will not get a
transplant, because they think it "may" kill me. I know that without a
transplant I will die anyway, could be quite soon, I have to rely on a
permacath because I can't have another fistula. Permacaths are
supposed to
be temporary access for up to a couple of months, sometimes slightly
longer.
I have had several and the last one I had for three years, the
present one I
will have had for a year at Christmas, It took five weeks and seven
attempts
to get it in, if I get an infection in this one there is no guarantee
that I
will get another one. In my case it isn't the shortage of organs that
is the
problem, it is the shortage of good transplant surgeons that's
stopping me
from having one.

Cheers,
Len.
UK>>>

Len wrote that mail over a year ago, His wish to have a Kidney
transplant was fulfilled this year on Septrmber 19th, but due to many
complications Len lost his fight for life a week later. Although
devastated myself at his loss, I am still so grateful to the donor
and the surgeon who tried in vain to give Len a better chance at life

Take care
Dianne