Let me tell you a wee story. It's about a boy called Dougie and a girl called Kirsty. They've been together for eight and a half years, and on Saturday night they invited all of their family and friends to join them in celebrating their engagement. Now, as we all know, a good story needs a good twist and this pair didn't disappoint. The engagement was just a rouse for their wedding.

After greeting her guests and ensuring we were suitably stuffed with amazing food, Kirsty went off to get her wedding dress on. It was a humanist ceremony and took place right where we were standing. No pomp, no frills, just a bride and groom full of the people they love. 

I can honestly say that I've never experienced an atmosphere like it. The celebrant announced that Kirsty, who at this point was noticeably absent for quite a while, was about to enter as a bride, the whole place erupted. It was a heady mix of pure joy, elation and downright tomfoolery of the highest degree. We were had and it was electric! Instantaneous tears, squeals and full blown sobbing - we were about to have ourselves a wedding! 

Allow me to take the story off piste for a minute to give you some background into Kirsty and Dougie. Kirsty was born with Cystic Fybrosis, which is an inherited disease caused by a faulty gene. This gene controls the movement of salt and water in and out of your cells, so the lungs and digestive system become clogged with mucus, making it hard to breathe and digest food.

More than 2.5 million people in the UK carry the faulty gene, around one in 25 of the population.
There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis but many treatments are available to manage it, including physiotherapy, exercise, medication and nutrition.
Each week five babies are born with cystic fibrosis, and two people die.
More than half of the cystic fibrosis population in the UK will live past 41, and improved care and treatments mean that a baby born today is expected to live even longer.

When Kirsty was born her parents were told she would probably not reach late teens, when she got to 18 the life expectancy was just 31.

Kirsty credits her family for her being so strong and not feeling sorry for herself. Her parents are Annette and Sandy, and her two big sisters are Tracey and Julie. Life went on as normal and they kept Kirsty as well as they could by doing her physio twice a day and keeping up with all of her medication - up to 50 pills a day. 

At the age of 22 after three severe lung collapses Kirsty was told she had to be put on the organ donor list and await a double lung transplant. The average waiting time is two years, but also due to the lack of donors in the UK you are also made aware that only one in two people who are waiting live long enough to be given the gift of life. 

During her waiting time, she became gravely ill. The doctor had the discussion with Kirsty that he didn't think she would survive a chest infection that she was battling; her ruined and destroyed lungs were not strong enough to handle it and had called in the palliative care team. This is something Kirsty didn't even share with her family or Dougie. All of this at the 24 years of age. 

After eight months on the Organ donor list, and having just celebrated her 25th birthday, Kirsty got the call to say they had a set of lungs for her. The operation took place on November 11, 2009 in Newcastle, she was surrounded by her family and of course, Dougie, who never doubted for a second that it was going to be a success. 

Success personified! Kirsty and I are fairly new friends to each other, we got chatting at a party a few years back. I sidled up to her and asked, "what's your story?" She replied with the now immortal, "If you want to hear it, you'd better pour yourself a drink!" I sat there open mouthed as she told me all about the illness, her four years since the lung transplant and all of the amazing living she had crammed in during that time - She has travelled the world, climbed Scotland's highest peak, is a make up artist, hair stylist, became a humanist celebrant, has two dogs, a home with Dougie, multiple tattoos and piercings...the list is endless. I was at a bit of a crossroads in my life at that point, I had a great career, in a relationship, but felt a bit stuck. Here was this lassie with mad specs and a fur coat telling me all of these things, she had a second chance at life and was living it better than anyone I knew.  I wanted a seat on her bus and taken along on the ride. I found her instantly inspiring, fun, so wise and she has the dirtiest cackle I've ever heard. We've been great pals ever since! 

Back to the wedding. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Humanist celebrations are so personal and most importantly, quick! There was no hanging around with these two lovebirds; the marriage certificate was signed on each of their backs. Kirsty's dad Sandy gave one of the most heart wrenching speeches I have ever heard. I always find the father of the bride speech emotional, but hats off to you Sandy Geddes, it was so eloquent and sincere - I know that Kirsty is who she is today because of the strength and support you and Annette have shown her. I'd also like to thank the lovely Anne for sharing her scarf with me to wipe away the tears! I was emotionally wrung out by the end. Everyone was full of adrenaline and that fueled us for a belter of a party. Kirsty is an advocate for the charity Live Life Give Life and I asked her to comment on her experience as an organ recipient: 

"I recently discovered that the numbers joining the organ donor register has had its first drop in the last decade. I am devastated.  People have to realize the importance of becoming organ donors and discussing your wishes with your nearest and dearest as it will come to them to make the decision if the very worst happens. 

"My donor will forever be my hero, not a day goes by where I don't think of my donor and thank her family for giving me the past five and a half years.

"I am living proof that organ donation can make such a difference. We all have the capacity to become someone's hero.

"This weekend I married the boy who stood by me through the very worst times in my life, who made me laugh on my worst days and gave me a big cuddle when things got too much. 

I met Dougie eight and a half years ago at a friends 21st in the Arches and from then on, he was the only one for me."

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Harvey, I wish you all of the happiness in the world. 

www.livelifegivelife.org.uk

www.cysticfybrosis.org.uk 

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