Louise Johnstone from West Lothian is calling on Scots to register their decision on organ and tissue donation following the sudden death of her husband.
Loving grandpa and postman, Jed Johnstone (53), was treated at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in 2023 after suffering from a brain aneurysm and subsequent stroke but tragically passed away.
Speaking out for Organ and Tissue Donation Week, Louise said:“My husband Jed was full of fun – he was an amazing person. We’d met later in life and married just over a year before he died and we’d been looking forward to our future together.”
When medics confirmed Jed wouldn’t be able to recover, specialist nurses informed Louise that Jed had registered as an organ donor and supported her as transplant teams identified four patients in urgent need of a transplant.
Louise said: “We’d talked about life after death so I knew that organ donation was what he wanted and I respected his wishes.”
“I was asked if I wanted to turn the machine off to let his heart stop. I couldn’t do it because I knew that then there was a chance that it couldn’t be used and what a waste of a good heart because Jed had the most beautiful heart.
“He’s left a hero’s legacy – Jed’s wishes provided four other families with a chance at life. For me, that is something really special. Two years later, I’ve got this amazing feeling that Jed’s heart is living on.”
People in Scotland aged 16 or over have the choice to be an organ and tissue donor, or to opt out. If you do nothing, it is assumed you agree to be a donor if you die in circumstances where donation is possible. In Lothian, over 610,000 people have registered their decision already, which is 67.4% of the population.
Louise is urging others to register their decision on organ donation and make their wishes known to friends and family.
Professor John Casey, Clinical Director and Transplant Surgeon at Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian said: “Jed’s decision to join the Organ Donor Register is a powerful reminder of the positive impact one person can have, and how important it is to discuss organ donation with loved ones. Although we have an opt-out policy, it is still important for individuals to make their wishes clear and have those conversations with their families.”
For details about organ donation and to register your decision, visit organdonationscotland.org.
