Half-a-century later from his pioneering operation, he is still going strong
A Larne man is celebrating the life-changing impact of organ donation – 50 years after he received a kidney transplant.
Alan Morton was just 15-years-old when he underwent the pioneering surgery. And five decades later – and with the same kidney – he is living proof of the incredible legacy made possible by organ donation.
Happily married to his wife Gail for 40 years, the pair went on to have three children and are proud grandparents to three grand-daughters – all thanks to Alan’s gift of life.
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“Organ donation made a huge difference to me,” Alan said.
“Life has been very good and I am very, very, thankful. I have had this kidney for 50 years – it has given me a whole life. If my donor’s family had declined a request about organ donation that would have put me on a completely different path.
“If somebody told you that a kidney donation could make a difference to the recipient for 50 or 60 years, I think more people might decide to go for it.”
To mark Alan’s milestone ‘kidneyversary’ a special celebration event was held in the Renal Unit at Antrim Area Hospital, where he was joined by family members and the renal staff who continue to care for him.
Sharon Brown, one of the Northern Trust’s Renal Nurse Specialists, said: “Whenever you think of the kidney Alan received as a 15-year-old boy and the life that it has given to him and the family he has been able to enjoy it.
“It is something that is worth marking and we are delighted to have this celebration here with him today.”
Alan’s transplant story began back when he was a ten-year-old boy. A rash on his lower body was initially treated as a skin condition, but it was later confirmed that Alan had Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) and his kidneys were badly affected.
Medication and then dialysis were used to manage the condition, with Alan recalling the huge size of the machines involved and the time spent in a hospital bed – 14 hours a day, twice a week. However, his health continued to decline and it soon became clear that a transplant would be necessary.
“One thing that sticks in my mind from that time was my mum standing at the bottom of the hospital bed, and the doctor saying ‘he’s going to really need a transplant’,” said Alan.
“And that was the first time it was mentioned, and Mum was in tears of course,”
Despite the passing of time, Alan can recall when the phone rang to say a donor organ was available, and how he remembers what he was doing at the time.
“The night the call came it was about six o’clock at night and we were just sitting down,” Alan said.
“I had to be very careful with my diet so I used to save up my potato rations and I was having about four chips for my dinner. We didn’t have a car so we had to phone a cousin and he took us up to Belfast, and I remember the streets being so quiet as we made our way to the hospital. It all happened very quickly from there.”
Alan said he is hugely grateful to all those involved in his care at the time, with Professor Molly McGeown deserving a special mention. She was a leading figure in renal care in Belfast and spent a lot of time with Alan during his stays in hospital.
He added: “Professor McGeown came in and she told me everything had went well, that it was a good match, and she reassured me about everything. She was a lovely woman and she was very, very, good to me. She treated me like her own kid.”
Thankfully, the transplant was a complete success, allowing Alan to regain his health and strength while giving him a second chance to live a long and fulfilled life. A talented musician and singer, Alan was well-known in the local band scene in Northern Ireland, playing in various groups covering all genres from country to heavy rock.
For many years he worked in Larne’s Paper Mill factory, and having returned to school after his transplant to complete his A-Levels, he has maintained a love of learning alongside an interest in photography, computers and music.
Despite not knowing details about his donor, Alan stated he is sure that he owes his life to the generosity and selflessness of an individual and their family. Someone, who gave the most precious gift at the hardest of times for them.
Currently, 82 people in Northern Ireland are on the active transplant list for a kidney-only transplant while over the last year, (1 April – 31 Dec 2025), 40 people donated their kidneys after death.
If you want to be an organ donor, the best way to make this known is by making sure you are on the NHS Organ Donor Register and talking to your family so they are aware and understand.
By confirming your decision, you are giving hope to those who are waiting on the same call that Alan’s family received 50 years ago. Under the ‘opt-out’ system, donation can still only go ahead with your family’s support, which is why it remains so important to have the conversation and leave your loved ones certain of your decision.
Ring 0300 123 23 23 or visit www.organdonationni.info to find out more and confirm your support for organ donation.
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