My name is Laurn and I was given the gift of life.

I had cystic fibrosis with probably the worst infection in the lungs you could have. I went on the transplant waiting list and waited six months before I got the call.

When I woke up in ICU two days later I couldn't believe the difference. I could breathe without gasping. I was in hospital for two weeks. During that time I was walking around the hospital, riding the exercise bikes, things I hadn't done in I don't know how long.

It's been nearly nine years now and I have never had any rejection or problems with my lungs in any way. I've gone on to learn and work in the career I've always wanted but was never able to do before.

I think of my donor and their family often. To be able to make the decision to donate at such a time of loss must be so hard. I lost my brother to cystic fibrosis two and a half years before my transplant while he was waiting for his call.

Organ donors are the real heroes in our society, not sports stars. They aren't saving peoples lives and giving them a second chance. The organ donors do that. They are heroes to every transplant recipient and their family. Without them we wouldn't be here. We can never express our gratitude enough. Thank you just doesn't cut it. But we can live and move forward, we can take our second chance and run with it. The best thing we can do is live for ourselves and for our donor who is with us every step of the way.

To every donor and their family, a massive THANK YOU for giving us a second shot at life!

Laurn