Man saved by donor heart funds UK's first advanced ECMO training simulator

A heart transplant recipient whose life was saved by an organ donor has donated £112,000 to NHS Golden Jubilee to fund the first Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) simulator of its type in the UK, helping specialist teams train to care for future patients.

The extraordinary donation from John McCormick, 44, from Lenzie, East Dunbartonshire, comes as part of Organ and Tissue Donation Week (21-27 September) and is his way of giving back to the teams who saved his life and the donor family whose gift made his future possible.

John underwent a heart transplant at NHS Golden Jubilee after becoming seriously ill. What began as a persistent illness led to a diagnosis of heart failure caused by an infection affecting an undiagnosed congenital heart condition.

After being transferred to NHS Golden Jubilee, John underwent several complex procedures, including valve surgery and a triple bypass. When his heart could no longer function effectively, he required ECMO life support while waiting for a heart transplant. Just days after being added to the transplant waiting list, he received the donor heart that saved his life.

More than a year later, John's transplant continues to be successful as he attends regular follow-up appointments while enjoying time with family and looking towards the future.

To thank the teams who cared for him and support future patients, John worked with clinicians at NHS Golden Jubilee to identify a project that would make a lasting difference. Together, they selected a third-generation ECMO simulator, made possible through his “incredible” donation.

John said: “What kept me alive was the ECMO system itself. Without that, I wouldn't be here. It gave me a second chance to spend time with my family and look at life differently.  

“I wanted to give something back that would support training and help more families receive the same care I did. Through both rehabilitation and the specialist care I received, I know first-hand the difference these services make for patients and their families.” 

John has also donated £5,000 to the Cardiac Rehabilitation team in recognition of the support he received before and after his transplant.  

The donation has funded a new exercise bike and rehabilitation equipment, including dumbbells, cones and hurdles, helping enhance rehabilitation opportunities for future patients.

The ECMO simulator is designed to allow realistic multidisciplinary training for clinical staff. It can be used to introduce new staff to the ECMO console, or to provide more complex scenarios for experienced staff. It provides training in a safe learning environment, helping staff to recognise and manage a range of ECMO related issues.  

The simulator has become part of the regular ECMO course and training days for the whole team. The Golden Jubilee Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) team has also used the simulator to train alongside other ECMO teams from across Scotland.   

Dr Neil Brain, Consultant Intensivist and ECMO Clinical Lead, said: “John's donation is an incredibly generous gift and a powerful example of a patient giving back to the service that helped save his life.  

“We are very lucky to have the first Simulator of this type in the UK, an investment that wouldn’t have been possible without John’s support.  

“We are using the simulator to help train ECMO specialists, from all the groups of health care professionals that make up the MCS team, in a way that just wouldn't have been possible without this equipment.  

“We will be eternally grateful to John, for helping us train our team to be ready to care for all the future patients needing ECMO.” 

Lynne Ayton, Executive Director of Operations, said: “John's donation is an extraordinary act of generosity and a legacy that will benefit patients for years to come. 

“This investment in the ECMO simulator will support the development of our teams and help ensure future patients and their families continue to receive the highest standard of specialist care when they need it most. 

"Organ Donation Week is an opportunity to highlight stories like John's and encourage people to make their donation decision known. His experience is a reminder that one decision can transform lives and create opportunities that extend far beyond the transplant itself.” 

For John, the donation is also an opportunity to champion organ donation and encourage others to make their wishes known. Through both the gift of a donor heart and the specialist care he received, he has experienced first-hand how one decision can save a life and create a legacy that benefits countless others. 

John added: “I wouldn't be here today without the generosity of an organ donor and their family.  

“Receiving a donor heart gave me a second chance at life and the opportunity to spend more time with the people I love.  

“I would encourage everyone to make their decision known and talk about organ donation with their loved ones, because it has the power to save lives.”