Liver transplant gave York, England man ten extra years with his family

Michale Sadler's liver transplant gave him ten textra years with his family: Michale Sadler, left, his wife Pat, and sons Gary and Darren.

By Jeremy Small The Press

THE FAMILY of a liver transplant patient was today mourning his death but also giving thanks for the extra ten years he enjoyed thanks to the lifesaving operation.

Michael Sadler, of Badger Hill, York, lived almost a decade longer than expected after another family donated a liver for the transplant, enabling him to see his sons graduate from university and one of them become an officer in the RAF.

Today his widow paid tribute to her late husband.

Pat Sadler said: “It’s very hard knowing he’s gone but we’re trying to be positive that he’s had nearly ten years that he wouldn’t have had if there hadn’t been a kind family who donated the liver. We’ll always be grateful for the generosity of the donors.” Pat, 63, said Michael took great delight in following the successes of their sons, Gary, 35, and Darren, 31, in the last ten years of his life.

“He had the liver transplant in 1999 and he sort of lived life to the full after that, health permitting. It sort of changed his attitude on life completely. He was always so grateful to have the chance to have the transplant.” In 1996, Michael was made a Freeman of York, a title given through birthright or servitude.

His great-grandfather, Henry Sadler, who was a confectioner in York, was also a freeman of the city, as was his father, Arthur Lane Sadler.

Pat said Michael, 65, was a leading table tennis player in York, playing in the first division. He also played cricket at Scarcroft and British Sugar cricket clubs.

Michael, a former maintenance plumber at the Nestlé Rowntree factory in Haxby Road, also worked for the youth service in York for about 20 years, as a youth leader.

“He used to take youth groups away for weekends. He started off at Archbishop Holgate’s School helping out with the youth group there and then he qualified as a youth leader and a community sports leader.”

Pat described her husband as a hugely giving person.

“He would do anything for anybody. Nothing was ever too much trouble. If anybody needed anything done he would be down to help out. If something broke down, he’d go down and help.”

For the past 20 years, Michael was involved with York Electronic Organ and Keyboard Society, serving as concert secretary, president and chairman.

“He couldn’t play but I play and my sons play and he actually built two of the organs that we have.”

Michael, who was born in York on June 12, 1943, is also survived by his mother, Joan, his brother, Roy, and his sister, June. He died of liver and kidney failure, at York Hospital on March 22.

A funeral service will be held at St Paul’s Church, in Heslington, York, at 2pm today, and at York Crematorium at 3pm.


Carrying card can save a life

THERE are more than 9,000 people in the UK desperately wanting an organ transplant that could save or dramatically improve their life.

The UK Transplant Service says that most are waiting for a kidney but others need new a new liver, lung or heart and that only 3,000 transplants are carried out each year.

But becoming an organ donor is not difficult and the more people who pledge to donate their organs after their death the more people whose lives can be saved.

To sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register, phone 0845 6060400. Alternatively, do it online at UK Transplant.

“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Sign Your Donor Card & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”

Register to be a donor in Ontario or Download Donor Cards from Trillium Gift of Life Network
For other Canadian provinces click here

In the United States, be sure to find out how to register in your state at ShareYourLife.org or Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov

In Great Britain, register at NHS Organ Donor Register

In Australia, register at Australian Organ Donor Register

Your generosity can save up to eight lives with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants. One tissue donor can help up to 100 other people by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves