PLANS to increase the number of organ donors have been welcomed by a Barrhead bride-to-be who feared she wouldn’t live long enough to get married.

Caroline Easdon has given her full backing to the Scottish Government’s decision to bring forward legislation for a soft ‘opt-out’ system – three years after a liver transplant saved her life.

Had she not received the new organ, 36-year-old Caroline admits she wouldn’t be around to plan her dream wedding to partner Neil Reid.

The law change will allow parts of an adult’s body to be used in transplants in the absence of express permission.

Admin assistant Caroline was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis – a chronic liver condition which causes jaundice and extreme fatigue – in 2000.

A deterioration in her condition meant she had to undergo a liver transplant in 2014.

Almost three years on from that life-changing operation, she is now looking forward to marrying her fiancé in November.

Caroline said: “Obviously, for me being someone who has received an organ, I fully support the government’s plan 100 per cent. Prior to my transplant, my quality of life was not great.

“I couldn’t do a lot of things others could and I was ill a lot of the time.

“You don’t plan too far ahead but I’m now organising my wedding for the end of the year and I’m able to look to the future.

“I’m a much, much healthier person and am forever grateful to the donor’s family for being so selfless and putting their loved one’s wishes forward.

“By doing that, they have saved my family having to go through that same grief.”

At present, anyone who wants to donate their organs after death has to ‘opt in’ to the system through the donor card scheme.

Around 45 per cent of the Scottish population are currently on the register.

Under the new proposals, the wishes of families and next of kin would continue to be respected and removal of organs would not go ahead without their support.

Caroline, who lived in Barrhead for 30 years before moving to Paisley six years ago, is confident the new legislation will be a success.

She said: “Since Wales brought it in, there’s been an increase in organ donors there, so it’s helping. You’ve got to let your family know what your wishes are. You need to make it clear.

“You’re never going to refuse an organ so you’ve got to be willing to give that up yourself.

“I’m on the register because I can still donate. It’s really important to respect someone’s wishes.”