A woman who underwent a life-saving heart transplant has called on more Scots to join the organ donor register.
Samantha Bell, 29, said signing up to the register is the "most amazing thing anyone can do". She spoke as it was revealed four out of 10 Scots have joined the register – the highest proportion in the UK.
Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said it shows the country is on the right track as he urged more people to sign up to become donors in the event of their death.
A new campaign to encourage Scots to do that was launched yesterday, with Ms Bell, from Cambuslang, giving it her full backing.
The bank worker was just 22 when she was diagnosed with severe cardiomyopathy, a condition normally associated with middle age which means the heart can stop at any time.
She was fitted with a mini-defibrillator inside her chest to help regulate her heartbeat, but after five years her condition deteriorated and she eventually underwent an emergency transplant eight weeks later.
The operation was a success and more than a year later the 29-year-old is looking forward to a healthy future.
"I know I'll get back to full fitness and I have my donor to thank for that. They gave me the gift of life and I can't thank their family enough," she said.
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