A father who underwent a life-changing kidney transplant is honouring the memory of his donor by continuing her love of football.
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who → undergo → football
Ian Alexander, 35, was three years old when he first experienced kidney problems and was later told he would need a transplant at some point in his lifetime.
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he → experience → lifetime
After his condition deteriorated he began dialysis at the age of 27 and went through many years of it.
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he → deteriorate → it
Mr Alexander said: “That was a pretty hectic weekend because we just found out we were having a little boy on the Saturday, the transplant was essentially then on the Monday.
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transplant → say → Monday
He said he has had a new lease of life since the kidney transplant, which came after two initial offers turned out not to be viable.
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offers → say → transplant
He said: “If you asked me back then how are you, I would have told you I was fine because it was the norm and as my kidney function declined, I just got on with it, it was the norm for me.
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it → say → me
“But now I’m back playing football.
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I → ’m → football
I’ve got my kids to football four nights a week, I’ve now been married for nearly six months.
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I → get → months
So many things have happened thanks to me getting my transplant.”
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me → happen → transplant
After undergoing the transplant, Mr Alexander and the donor’s family made contact with each other, and he learned she had been a 32-year-old woman who loved football.
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who → undergo → football
Mr Alexander, who has two sons aged four and six, had been unable to play because of his chronic kidney disease and took up the sport again as a way of honouring her memory.
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who → have → memory
He now plays with the Scottish Transplant Football Team with the message “Forever 32” on his jersey, paying tribute to his donor every time he is on the pitch.
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he → play → pitch
He said: “We love playing the game, but at the end of the day, when we take to that park the thing we’re doing it for is for our donors, whether that’s someone that can be there watching us, or whether that’s someone that’s sadly passed.”
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that → say → donors
The father-of-two, who is the goalie, also helps organise the team and has been involved since it started in 2024.
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it → organise → 2024
On September 27 they will play their first friendly match of the new season, playing against Sands United, a team of fathers who have lost babies.
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who → play → babies
Mr Alexander, who lives in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire, shared his story to mark the start of Organ Donation Week, which runs from September 21-27.
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He is now urging other people to think about organ donation and discuss it with their loved ones.
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He said: “I think it’s a very important conversation to have.
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If you want to donate your organs when anything happens then yes, please have that conversation.
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anything → want → conversation
And if someone does come and have that conversation with you, please honour their decision.
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someone → come → decision
“They can say yes I want to but at the end of the day, when that part comes, you still need to honour it in the hospital.
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you → say → hospital
“So I would ask yes, please, because you never know who’s going to be waiting on a transplant.”
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who → ask → transplant
The Scottish Government’s ‘Don’t leave your loved ones in doubt’ campaign is urging people to record their choice on the NHS Organ Donor Register and ensure those closest to them are aware.
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If someone does not record a decision, it may be assumed that they agree to become a donor if they die in circumstances where donation is possible, unless they are part of an excluded group or if donation would be against their beliefs.
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donation → record → beliefs
More information can be found at www.organdonation.scot and more information about Organ Donation Week and laws elsewhere in the UK can be found at www.organdonation.nhs.uk/get-involved/organ-donation-campaigns/organ-donation-week/
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information → find → www.organdonation.nhs.uk/get-involved/organ-donation-campaigns/organ-donation-week/
The Aporia
