A GWENDRAETH valley father who has had two kidney transplants has backed proposals for a new organ donation system in Wales.

Stuart Davies, of Bancffosfelen, joined health minister Lesley Griffiths on Monday to launch the proposed legislation, which would mean people would have to "opt-out" of organ donation in future.

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Stuart, a father of three, was diagnosed with renal failure in 1988.

He spent three years on dialysis before his life was turned around by an organ transplant.

Unfortunately, the drugs Stuart had to take to support the transplant caused his new kidney to fail, and he returned to dialysis.

Stuart spent 16 hours on dialysis every week at home — which involved waking at 2.30am, to be able to continue his work as a car spray painter at Raymonds Garage.

Eventually, in 2003, he underwent a second transplant — from none other than his sister, Hayley Balbini.

Despite having different blood groups, Hayley was able to give her brother Stuart one of her kidneys thanks to a new treatment — plasmapheresis — which enables the body to accept a kidney from a donor of a different blood group, but with a good tissue match.

Forty-five-year-old Stuart has now represented Great Britain in two World Transplant Games, and Cardiff in nine British Transplant Games, bringing home a total of 43 medals.

Speaking at the launch, he said: "I am in favour of the proposed legislation from the Welsh Government as I feel it will make more organs available for transplantation.

"Having spent almost a quarter of my life on dialysis, which is an aggressive treatment, I know only too well the desperate, bleak and uncertain feeling of waiting for an organ. I also saw several of my fellow dialysis patients die waiting for a transplant.

"Having a transplant has given me my life back and enabled me to be a proper husband to my wife, and father to our daughters.

"In my opinion, if you are willing to accept an organ should you need one then, in turn, you should also be willing to donate in the event of your death."

Under the proposed system, which could implemented by 2015, people will be given the opportunity to either formally make a decision to be a donor (opt in) or not to be a donor (opt out), by placing their name on a register.

People over the age of 18 who choose to do neither, will be deemed to have given their consent and made a decision to donate their organs and tissues for transplantation.

Families will still be involved in the process and the issue of donation will continue to be approached sensitively.

Deemed consent will not apply to everyone — with safeguards put in place for children, people who lack capacity and people who do not live in Wales.

The draft Bill has been published for consultation, which will close on September 10.

There will be a number of stakeholder events held across Wales during the consultation period.

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