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• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Lesley - Interview 19 >> Lesley had several questions she would have liked to talk to medical staff about but felt too depressed to call the nurse. She would have appreciated

Lesley’s son, Kristian, sadly died after a road accident in 1997, aged 21. Kristian gave the ‘gift of life’ to five people. Lesley would like to have annual updates on their welfare but has heard nothing for over thirteen years.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Sue - Interview 18 >> Sue wanted to talk to people in a similar situation. The Donor Family Network and Compassionate Friends were very supportive. Through these organisati

Sue’s son, Martin, sadly died of a brain haemorrhage in 2003, aged 16. Working with different charities, she is now heavily involved in raising awareness of organ donation and supporting bereaved parents.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Jackie - Interview 21 >> Jackie’s husband bottled up his feelings and became depressed. She wishes he could have talked to other bereaved men.

Jackie’s son, Lyall, sadly died after a road traffic accident in 1996, aged 16. Lyall gave the gift of life to six people and sight to two. Jackie has been keen to raise awareness of organ donation and met two of Lyall’s recipients.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Catherine and Tom - Interview 13 >> Catherine talked to various people shortly after her son’s death in an attempt to work out how it might have happened. She gained some comfort knowing

Catherine’s son and Tom’s stepson, John, sadly died of a brain haemorrhage in 1995, aged 24. He had carried a donor card from the age of 16. Catherine and Tom are very proud of John and the ‘gift of life’ he gave to five people.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Eunice - Interview 14 >> At first, Eunice couldn’t imagine ever feeling better. She cried every day. Over time, her feelings of grief lessened. She advised talking about the p

Eunice’s daughter, Kirstie, sadly died after a car accident in 2006, aged 26. She had registered for organ donation at the age of fifteen. Kirstie gave the ‘gift of life’ to five people. Eunice would like to have annual updates on their welfare.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Linda - Interview 25 >> When Linda read that some of the recipients were much older than her husband, John, who died at 50, it felt unfair. She was still grieving, but these

Linda’s husband, John, sadly died of two brain haemorrhages in 2007, aged 50. Linda advised people to talk about organ donation with their families as these decisions are very difficult to make under stress when someone suddenly becomes critically ill.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Linda - Interview 25 >> Linda advises recently bereaved people to be kind to themselves. She felt in shock for about three months and was very tearful. Time helped her adjust

Linda’s husband, John, sadly died of two brain haemorrhages in 2007, aged 50. Linda advised people to talk about organ donation with their families as these decisions are very difficult to make under stress when someone suddenly becomes critically ill.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Craig and Sandra - Interview 07 >> Things that remind Craig and Sandra of their daughter can make them smile and cry. Feelings of sadness can catch them unexpectedly. They will never fo

Craig and Sandra consented to donate their 11-year-old daughter’s organs in 2008 when she, sadly, died of a brain haemorrhage. Their daughter, Rachel, had discussed her wishes with them in the past, knowing that her grandfather had died after having two kidney transplants.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Eunice - Interview 14 >> Eunice and her husband grieved differently. He was angry but she found it hard to talk. She felt it was important not to judge each other but to focus

Eunice’s daughter, Kirstie, sadly died after a car accident in 2006, aged 26. She had registered for organ donation at the age of fifteen. Kirstie gave the ‘gift of life’ to five people. Eunice would like to have annual updates on their welfare.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Liz - Interview 17 >> Liz’s children dealt with their dad’s death in different ways. One daughter became quite clingy. Liz felt it was important to keep talking about him a

Liz’s husband, Rick, sadly died of a brain haemorrhage in 2000, aged 38. They had four young children. Liz advised being open and honest with children, answering their questions as fully as possible and involving them in decisions about the funeral.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Craig and Sandra - Interview 07 >> Having a memory box helped Sandra, Craig and their son. It was difficult going into Rachel’s room at first. They will keep her things, continue talkin

Craig and Sandra consented to donate their 11-year-old daughter’s organs in 2008 when she, sadly, died of a brain haemorrhage. Their daughter, Rachel, had discussed her wishes with them in the past, knowing that her grandfather had died after having two kidney transplants.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Haydn - Interview 15 >> Haydn kept himself busy with work, the inquest and raising awareness of organ donation. He couldn’t keep ‘running away’, though, and said the reality

Haydn’s son, Will, had depression and sadly died of a drug overdose in 2006, aged 18. Haydn and his daughter, Will’s sister, would have liked more information about the recipients of Will’s organs, but only heard about the welfare of two of them.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Jackie - Interview 21 >> Your relative would have wanted you to be happy. With time, it is easier to remember the good memories. Some people don’t know what to say but they do

Jackie’s son, Lyall, sadly died after a road traffic accident in 1996, aged 16. Lyall gave the gift of life to six people and sight to two. Jackie has been keen to raise awareness of organ donation and met two of Lyall’s recipients.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Frank - Interview 16 >> After a very bad night, Frank phoned the Donor Family Network. The volunteer was very supportive and reassuring. She visited him and also helped his d

Frank’s wife, Jen, sadly died in 2008, aged 62. She had been unwell for about a year and was later diagnosed with motor neurone disease. She was a nurse, and gave the gift of life to two people with kidney failure.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Lesley - Interview 19 >> Counselling helped Lesley get rid of anger she had towards the other driver involved in her son’s accident. Gradually, her depression lifted and she g

Lesley’s son, Kristian, sadly died after a road accident in 1997, aged 21. Kristian gave the ‘gift of life’ to five people. Lesley would like to have annual updates on their welfare but has heard nothing for over thirteen years.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Ann - Interview 10 >> Reiki helped Ann accept her son’s death and she later became a practitioner. It is easier to move on when you can accept what has happened. Visiting t

Ann’s son, Mike, sadly died after choking in 2006, aged 31. She feels strongly that all potential donor families should be given the opportunity to consider consenting for organ donation, and must be approached about it by doctors.

• Organ donation & transplant >> Organ donation >> Donor families >> Jackie - Interview 21 >> Certain days of the year are very difficult. Jackie advises doing only what feels right for you and being true to yourself.

Jackie’s son, Lyall, sadly died after a road traffic accident in 1996, aged 16. Lyall gave the gift of life to six people and sight to two. Jackie has been keen to raise awareness of organ donation and met two of Lyall’s recipients.