The generous final acts of 35 Sussex patients have helped save the lives of 74 people over the past year, thanks to the remarkable gift of organ donation.
This Organ Donation Week, University Hospitals Sussex is encouraging people to confirm their decision and register as an organ donor, helping to address a decline in organ donation that has contributed to a growing transplant waiting list.
More than 8,700 people across the UK are currently waiting for a transplant, the highest number ever recorded. Sadly, someone dies every day whilst waiting for a life-saving organ.
According to NHS Blood and Transplant, you are more likely to need an organ transplant than to become an organ donor. This is because organ donation is exceptionally rare, with only a small number of people dying in circumstances where donation is possible.
That is why it is so important for those willing to donate to record their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. One donor has the potential to save up to nine lives and transform many more through tissue donation.
Most of us would be willing to accept an organ transplant if we needed one or would hope one was available for a loved one. If you would say yes to receiving a life-saving organ, would you say yes to becoming an organ donor?
Opportunities to save lives are sometimes lost because a person’s donation decision is unknown. Recording your choice on the NHS Organ Donor Register provides certainty and clear guidance for families during an incredibly difficult time.
Family support remains vital in helping organ donation go ahead. Nine in ten families support organ donation when they know their loved one’s wishes [NHS Blood and Transplant].
There is no age limit for becoming an organ donor, and having an illness or medical condition does not necessarily prevent someone from donating.
In 2025/26, University Hospitals Sussex supported 35 people to donate their organs after death, resulting in 74 life-saving transplants, including:
- 56 kidneys
- 14 livers
- 4 pancreases
- 4 lungs
- 3 hearts
In addition, 39 corneas were donated, helping to restore sight for up to 39 people. Corneal transplants currently have one of the longest transplant waiting lists in the UK, making tissue donation an especially important gift that can help restore a person’s sight.
We are incredibly proud of the colleagues who support patients and families through the donation pathway, and deeply grateful to the families who honour their loved ones’ wishes at such a difficult time. One of those families is Amir’s.
Bita’s story
Five years ago, Bita Hamrang died while being cared for in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.
Through the extraordinary gift of organ donation, Bita donated her lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and heart valves, helping to save four lives.
Her husband, Amir, was supported by the hospital team and, despite his shock and heartbreak, was determined to honour Bita’s decision to become an organ donor.
Amir said: “Bita was a truly kind and caring person. She supported and valued people, treating them with warmth and understanding.
“I am overwhelmed with a deep sense of pride and gratitude when I think about what my wife has done. She saved four lives through organ donation.”
Earlier this year, colleagues paid tribute to Bita’s generosity with a storyboard displayed in the ICU where she was cared for.
Amir said: “It’s not just the incredible gift of life that she gave, but the selflessness and love that came with it.
“I’m filled with both sorrow and peace because I miss her dearly, but know that she lives on, continuing to make the world a better place. Her kindness, strength and generosity will never be forgotten.”
By sharing Bita’s story, we hope more people will consider their own organ and tissue donation decision, discuss it with their family, and record their wishes on the NHS Organ Donor Register.
A single decision could save lives. Register or update your decision today.