TWENTY per cent of people in Scotland would be likely to consider donating a kidney in their lifetime to help a stranger – which is a caring act carried out by a Stirling woman.

The figure is within new research released yesterday, Wednesday, March 22, undertaken as part of a drive to highlight the importance of living kidney donation.

It also revealed that over half of those surveyed (56 per cent) would be likely to consider living kidney donation for a friend, with 83 per cent agreeing they’d be likely to do it for a family member.

With a quarter of people in Scotland (26 per cent) not having heard of living kidney donation, the campaign is focused on increasing awareness of the difference living kidney donation can make to a person living with end-stage kidney failure.

Over the last 10 years, 500 people in Scotland have become living kidney donors, with over 80 people donating in 2015-16 alone.

Marsha Eastwood, from Bannockburn, made the decision to donate to someone she didn’t know who was waiting on the transplant list – an act known as altruistic kidney donation – in November 2016.

Marsha’s interest in becoming a living kidney donor was first sparked by a TV programme, with the administration worker deciding it was something she’d investigate once retired.

Following retirement some 10 years later, Marsha made contact with the Living Donor Transplant Co-ordinator at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in 2014 to start the process.

Although everything was fine medically, Marsha was told her BMI was too high for her to be considered.

For the next six months, Marsha focused on getting herself into the best shape, going to the gym six days a week resulting in a three stone weight loss – and a complete change in lifestyle.

She said: "As soon as I heard about the possibility of altruistic donation, I knew it was for me.

"I just felt like the right thing to do and I worked at getting myself as physically fit and healthy as I could so that the donation could go ahead.

"I never had any doubts, worries or concerns throughout the whole process as I trusted the surgeons and believed in a higher power.

"My recovery was really straightforward, and just four weeks after the surgery, I felt my energy levels return to normal."

Marsha doesn’t know who her recipient is, and understands she may never find out, but was told the transplant was a success and that the individual was very grateful.

Marsha said: "It’s still with me every day, and I feel like I have a connection to someone I don’t know and might never meet.

"It’s the thing I’ve done in my life that I’m most proud of. I know in my heart I’ve helped someone else have a better life and even if I never find out who that is, that is enough for me.

"It’s also changed my life, which is something I’ll be forever grateful for. I’ve lost weight, am more active and feel ten years younger than I did before the surgery.

"If I could do it again tomorrow I wouldn’t hesitate. I’m on the NHS Organ Donor Register so that someday perhaps I can help someone again."

Currently there are over 400 people in Scotland waiting on a life-saving kidney transplant, facing an average wait of around two and a half years for a kidney from a deceased donor.

Jen Lumsdaine, living donor transplant co-ordinator, said: "It’s really encouraging to hear that there are so many people in Scotland who would consider living kidney donation, whether for a family member, friend or complete stranger.

"Everyone has different motivations but the thing that unites those who become living kidney donors is the truly exceptional gift they give to someone in need.

"I’ve seen first-hand the life-changing difference it can make.

"In general, kidneys from living donors last longer, leading to better results for patients.

"Of course we recognise it’s not for everyone, but raising awareness is key to increasing donation rates and helping the many people in Scotland still waiting on the transplant list."

To find out more about the living kidney donation process, visit livingdonationscotland.org