By Sarah Robinson

Last updated at 07:38, Friday, 15 March 2013

A dramatic rise in organ donors has been reported following an emotional appeal from a Whitehaven family.

Amy Lamb with Katelyn McAleavy

Relatives of eight-year-old Katelyn McAleavy launched an appeal four weeks ago as their little girl, who suffers from a serious heart defect, urgently needs a heart transplant.

They have received a tremendous amount of support – with kind-hearted people signing up to become organ donors and more than 1,620 people supporting Katelyn’s Facebook page.

The NHS Blood and Transplant service says there has been a ‘huge rise’ in the number of people in Copeland signing up to become donors over the past few weeks.

In the first week of February, 10 people signed up to become organ donors, followed by four people the next week (Feb 12).

A total of 67 people signed up in the week of Katelyn’s appeal (February 19), followed by 63 the next week (February 26) and 41 people last week (March 5).

A spokesperson for the NHS Blood and Transplant service said that as February is National Heart Month and there is generally an increase in people signing up compared to other months of the year. However, Katelyn’s appeal has had a huge impact on the community.

Joy Lamb, Katelyn’s grandmother, said: “There was such a fantastic response to the appeal and it has raised so much awareness.

“It’s really humbling that people read about Katelyn and have chosen to become organ donors.”

She said: “It’s not an easy decision at all and it’s not a decision that people take lightly.”

The family says that anyone wanting to become an organ donor can register but they must discuss their wishes with their loved ones.

Joy says the appeal has raised awareness about Katelyn’s heart defect – hyperplastic left heart syndrome – which means that only half of her heart works properly.

The little girl has undergone four major operations, including having a pacemaker fitted. However, her heart has failed again and the only option left is for her to have a complete transplant.

Her family says she is top of the national transplant emergency list and they are waiting for a heart to become available.

In the meantime, relatives are appealing for people to become organ donors, if they can, and raise funds for CHUF (children heart unit fund) at the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, where Katelyn has been treated.

Joy said the family has been overwhelmed by the amount of support they have had from the community.

At Katelyn’s school, St Begh’s, a Red Heart Day is taking place tomorrow where children will be paying £1 and dressing up in red. Local businesses and organisations have donated prizes for a charity bingo event.

To download an organ donor register form that you can post to NHS Blood and Transplant, click here

To join the register online, visit the NHS Blood and Transplant website here

First published at 07:33, Friday, 15 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk