Transplants

The 57-year-old needs a new pancreas and kidney and is on the organ transplant register '“ meaning, day or night, she could be called to hospital for a potentially life-saving operation.

This week, she has joined fellow patients and the friends and family of a boy who died of liver failure while awaiting a transplant, in calling for more people to sign up as organ donors.

Valerie, of Ferringham Lane, said: "I would strongly encourage people to do it because it could completely change someone's life. Waiting for a organ is like being pregnant, you always have to have your bags packed and be ready to rush to hospital.

"I don't let it get me down as I make an effort to stay positive, but it will be so nice when I can lead a relatively normal life again."

Until she receives new organs, Valerie has to go to Worthing Hospital three times a week for dialysis '“ which does the work of her failing kidneys and cleans her blood.

She spends four hours each time on a machine and has been doing so for the last 17 months.

Valerie, has had diabetes for 22 years but started going into renal (kidney) failure three years ago. It got progressively worse until she had to start dialysis in April last year.

She would like to see a system introduced whereby everybody is an organ donor unless they chose to opt out. "Having that in place would change a great many more lives."

THE bandmates of a boy who died of liver failure urged people to become donors at a gig held in their friend's memory.

Jake Orpin, 20, of Woodside Road, Worthing, died in November after a donor organ could not be found in time.

Earlier this month, his friends and former bandmates held a concert to raise awareness and cash for charity.

Sam Strotten, 21, guitarist in Borrowed Time, said: "The band was devastated when Jake died and we wanted to do something positive as a tribute to him. We learned of the work of the Children's Liver Disease Foundation and decided to stage a fundraising concert.

"The charity's research programme could help people like Jake in the future but they can only continue this with support."

n There are 17 people in Worthing awaiting organ transplants, including people needing a new kidney, pancreas, liver and heart.

n Since 2003, Jake Orpin is the only Worthing person to have died while awaiting a new organ.

n In the Worthing post code area, there are 27,732 people registered as organ donors out of a population of 97,568.

n To find out more about signing up as a donor, dial 0845 6060400.