Organ donation is down, so Hannah - who needs a heart - makes a plea

Hannah Cochrane has been waiting two years for a new heart.

The 21-year-old from Hampshire is one of thousands who need a transplant in the UK.

The number of people who donated organs after death has fallen for the first time in 11 years. The total number of transplants (including from living donors) has also fallen year-on-year, from 4,655 to 4,431.

This is her plea to you.

Dear reader

I can't even begin to imagine how hard it is when you've just lost someone.

No one wants to think about what happens after death, but the reality is it does happen and organ donation means your loved one can help others after they've gone.

I had been healthy my whole life. I'd just finished my second year of university and then all of a sudden I became so ill, really breathless. I was sick all the time.

I couldn't walk a yard without wanting to lie on the floor breathless.

I had cardiomyopathy, which is basically heart failure. They don't know why I had it.

Hannah is currently working full-time for the probation service

I was told I need a heart transplant. When you're told the word 'transplant' it knocks you sideways. No one ever comprehends that they need a transplant.

However, I wasn't able to wait - I was too ill. I had something called an LVAD fitted, which is basically a pump that sits in the bottom of the heart and it circulates the blood constantly.

I've got a lead that comes out of my stomach and that's attached to the power supply which I carry around in a bag. It's a bit of burden. I'm used to it now, but it is quite difficult having a bag 24/7 and doing everything with it.

People always say to me, 'Do you sleep with it?' I'm like, 'Yes it's in my bed, I can't unplug it.'

It's kept me pretty stable to be fair. I'm pretty lucky to be as well as I am in my situation.

This bag contains the battery for Hannah's heart pump

I've been waiting for a transplant for two years now. I have had four calls but the hearts turned out to be not good enough.

It is really deflating because you build yourself up to finally go for this operation and then you're let down.

The main thing I would say to people is that if you are willing to take an organ - God forbid you get into my position - then I feel that you should be happy to give up your organs.

But it's family that's the biggest thing because, although your wish could be to give your organs, if your family don't know that and they're not sure, they have the last say. So they can say no. It's all about talking and getting it out there really.

To families, I would say although your loved one has passed - and I can't imagine what you must feel in that situation - afterwards you have the chance to save someone else's life.

So although you've suffered God knows what type of emotions and heartbreak by losing someone, the fact that you could help save others has got to be empowering.

Your loved one could actually save someone's life and, in my eyes, be a hero.

Hannah has to carry this battery bag with her all the time

I would call myself quite lucky. I could be in hospital waiting, which I'm not. I'm out, I'm working. Not everyone is as lucky as me, of course. Many people are in hospital.

I do worry about the future. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. I don't know if I'm suddenly going to deteriorate or whether I'm going to remain steady and get a transplant, or will I never get a transplant.

Although this pump is great, I've known people who've got one to pass away because their bodies couldn't go on any further. It's quite scary but I'm young so I think that works in my favour.

Hopefully my story will encourage at least one person. If it encourages one person then that's potentially a couple of lives saved.

Yours,

Hannah.

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