Martyn Jackson's remarkable journey began in October 2024 when he was diagnosed with myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, and placed on the super urgent waiting list for a transplant. He received a new heart on 28 November 2024 and made a remarkable recovery, joining the England Transplant FC team in January 2026. BBC Sport reports that Jackson scored for England in their 5-1 win over Spain in the final of the Transplant World Cup, a tournament featuring players who have received donor organs. The match was played just three days before the start of Organ Donation Week.
According to Dr Paul Callan, a consultant cardiologist at Wythenshawe Hospital's Heart and Lung Centre, Jackson's recovery is "remarkable" and highlights the importance of organ donation. The NHS has launched an urgent response plan to address the decline in organ donors, with 8,700 people currently waiting for a donor organ, an all-time high. England manager Daley Cross says that the team's existence is a testament to the power of organ donation and encourages people to have the conversation about organ donation.