A NEWPORT man's death could potentially help thousands of others to live, his widow has revealed.

Michael Doherty, 55, died on his birthday last Tuesday after suffering a stroke. And his widow Karen told the Argus his decision before his death to become an organ donor is now helping others to survive heart problems after he donated his heart valves, regain their sight using his donated corneas, and potentially helping thousands of kidney disease sufferers through research on his donated kidneys being carried out by a team in Scotland.

Mr Doherty, who is also survived by his two daughters, Melissa and Leah, and his stepson, Jamie, was on the organ donor register

Mrs Doherty, 44, of Rogerstone, his wife of 10 years, said this selfless donation was in his nature.

She said: “He registered as he felt that if he couldn’t take the organs with him, he would rather help other people. Michael would give his last pound away and he always put everyone else first.

“His corneas, the whites of his eyes (sclera), and his heart valves will also be donated. The valves will help babies. We’re still waiting on a letter for the exact details.”

Mrs Doherty suffers with Fibromyalgia, a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body. Mr Doherty regularly looked after his wife after following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather as a dock worker in Newport.

Mrs Doherty said: “He was my soul mate. We worked together so well, by instinct really, and we never argued. He was my crutch and did so much to help me. He was a very sociable man, but he would rather stay with me in the evenings than go down the pub. He wouldn’t go anywhere without me.

“He would do anything for his family. His father, John, died two years ago and Michael did everything for his mother, Shirley.”

Mrs Doherty first met Mr Doherty “16 or 17 years ago” at the Gaer Inn, Newport and, initially friends, the pair did not get together until five years later.

Mrs Doherty said that it was only when Mr Doherty, originally from Pill, was due to move away that she realised just how much she cared for him.

She added: “Mike was about to move to Swansea with his uncle and I realised I was going to miss him. He walked me home that night and we’ve been inseparable since. We just got stronger and stronger.”

A lover of sport, particularly bowls, rugby, football, and golf, Mr Doherty also enjoyed cooking and listening to music.

Mrs Doherty said that Mr Doherty often went to Glastonbury when he was younger and had an eclectic music taste.

She added: “He loved music, whether it was Frank Zappa or Michael Buble. He’d relate to musicians as people, as much as their music.

“When we were on holiday in Portugal, he got people in a Madeira bar singing Tom Jones songs. He was up there conducting them all. He was a real character.”

A spokeswoman for Organ Donation Wales, said, “Organ donation saves lives, and with such a high number of people’s lives ‘on a clock’ waiting for an organ donor, we hope the change to the organ donation law in Wales will help people on the donor waiting list by increasing the number of organs available for transplant.

“Talking about our personal organ donation wishes with our loved ones is not always easy but clarifying this decision is important as we prepare to introduce the new soft opt out legislation in Wales on December 1, 2015.”

Mr Doherty’s funeral will take place at St Michael’s RC Church, Pillgwenlly at 12pm on Friday. Immediate family flowers only but, if desired, donations are appreciated for Alzheimer’s society in tribute to Mr Doherty’s father, John.