AN ALLOA woman is urging people to begin talking about organ donation while enjoying their Christmas dinners this year.

Lisa Hertwig, who has cystic fibrosis, received a double lung transplant in November 2016 which saved her life following three-and-a-half-years of waiting.

Now, actress Leah MacRae, who is also a friend of Lisa's, is calling for people to be prepared in case they, or someone they know, needs a transplant.

The call comes after statistics showed 38 per cent of Scots haven't had the conversation with loved ones yet.

Leah said: "Needing a transplant is something you never think will happen to you, and then I met this amazing person and it was happening to them.

"Before I met Lisa, I was never on the organ donor register. I didn't know enough about it and the thought of it scared me.

"But seeing the life that you can give to someone who, like Lisa, would have died without that help – I asked myself that question.

"If I found out I needed a life-saving transplant tomorrow to continue with my life, to stay with all my loved ones and live my dreams, would I take it? Then it became a no brainer for me.

"If you ask yourself that question and the answer is yes, and you haven't registered your decision, then you need to think about why that is.

"Everyone has a choice at the end of the day, but your family knowing what that is makes it easier for them to support it.

"And I hope people take the time to do that, because I've seen first-hand what organ donation can do."

With the law around organ and tissue donation changing to opt out from Autumn 2020, Leah highlighted why she believes organ donation is a personal choice, but stressed the importance of sharing that decision with family regardless.

The move to an opt-out system of organ and tissue donation means that if people have not recorded a decision about donation, it may be assumed they're willing to be a donor when they die.

Families will always be involved in discussions about donation and will be asked about their loved ones views, to ensure that donation wouldn't go ahead where it is against the donor's wishes.

People can find out more about the opt out system of organ and tissue donation, and their choices at organdonationscotland.org