Special anniversary - please read

A lovely post MawB - as others have said - uplifting?

Happy anniversary to you and your DH ?

I, too, carry a donor card ??

Yes, my DS was carrying a donor card and it did inform the family decision because my DM felt that my DS's body had been so damaged by the accident and the several brain operations she had received to try and save her life that the thought of further interference with her body seemed too much. But the donor card helped her come to terms with the donation and in retrospect she was very glad she had given consent.

We found that staff in intensive care were so caring for the family and, indeed my DS, although she was brain dead. 48 hours have to pass between the death and the transplant operation. During that time the person is on life support so they seem to be breathing and their skin is warm and pink, so it is very difficult not to see them as still alive, but sleeping.

I am sorry if this post is too graphic for any Gransnetter, but the experience at the time was so gentle and caring and the experience of donating organs so uplifting, to know that, to reverse the usual phrase, 'In the midst of death was life'

M0nica I am eternally grateful to people like you and your family. It is "easy" to say we should carry a donor card, but faced with a tragedy it is another matter to make the decisions to donate organs. When DH was in ICU a little while after his transplant and was quite poorly as he had started fitting, I met the family of a young woman who had been brought in with a brain haemorrhage. Over the course of the day we chatted about why I and DDs were in the relatives' room and what had been happening with DH. it became apparent alas that the young woman who was in a coma was actually brain dead , not going to make it and DDs and I retreated to give them space to assimilate the shock. While I was on the ward though I saw the nurses washing the girl's hands and face, brushing her hair so gently, all the time talking softly to her as if she were just resting and could hear all they were saying . The tenderness of their care made such an impression that I can remember it absolutely clearly, 20 years on. Later the girl's parents told me that while their daughter had a donor card, what had convinced them to agree to organ donation was meeting us, seeing our DDs and realising that organ donation is giving a life, not just to a patient who would otherwise die, but giving life to his entire family.
I felt very humble. It is an awful thought that one family is grieving so that another can breathe again, but it may be a consolation to see a practical example of how much that life can mean to others.
So thank you again

DD was seriously injured in a road accident over 5 years ago and she has had superb and prolonged treatment from the NHS and was finally signed off from the hospital just before this New Year. She has been left with a disability, but nowhere as bad as we first feared.

Sadly my DS died in a road accident 25 years ago and we were able to donate her kidneys and liver to save other lives. It is an immense consolation to know that from our tragedy three other people were given a second chance of life. One recipient was aged only 15.

What a lovely anniversary to celebrate - and a wonderful tribute to our NHS. Too many stories are so negative about the treatment we receive it's great to hear something so heartwarming!

Uplifting!!!?

Thanx for sharing your story MawBroon.

A young friend in her early 20s who was becoming more and more exhausted/restricted by her Cystic Fibrosis had (at last) a successful double lung transplant in November. She has posted on facebook daily updates of her progress (now home and doing a little more each day - e.g. riding a bike for the 1st time ever) and every post has praised the NHS and given thanks to the donor's family. She has been campaigning for years re organ donation to great effect - I do not think there is anyone who knows, or knows of, her who is not registered now.

Organ donation is a profoundly wonderful thing, giving hope and prolonged life to those in need and their families and also comforts the bereaved to know that their loved one has given this gift to another. I am glad that donation will soon become opt out rather than opt in but meanwhile urge everyone to register as a donor.

Your DH has had an awful lot of problems Maw but at least is still here to enjoy life. My DSIL has PSC too but thanks to his drugs is still working full time and not at the moment needing a transplant.

*Paw & Maw Well done to both of you &&

In these days of doom and gloom it's lovely to hear a heartening NHS story mawbroon, and it's indeed a cause for celebration for you and your family.

That is a very uplifting story - thank goodness for our NHS

Happy transplant anniversary to PawBroon and to all your family

Happy anniversary, wonderful story

What a uplifting post nhs is second to none ?

How fantastic MawB, it's good to hear some happy news for a change!

Lovely news.

Great to hear your good news Mawbroon and that the NHS yet again has given the best of care.
I have my donor card - wouldn't be without it.

That is a lovely post and it's lovely to hear such good news.

My OH was just commenting yesterday how well I have been treated by the NHS recently. I had a CT scan yesterday to diagnose my respiratory problems, had a cataract operation a few weeks ago and will be having the other eye done soon. All of my appointments at the two hospitals have been absolutely on time.

Oor Wullie!, Jane 10!!!

Wonderful to hear some positive news on the NHS. Congratulations on your special anniversary and may you have many more.

Many congratulations MawBroon (Maggie next time?)

How wonderful for you both, may you have many happy years ahead. .

The Royal Free is a wonderful hospital, I had both my DSs there. The care was second to none.

Thank you for posting this lovely news, MawBroon. Much to celebrate indeed. ???

A useful reminder and a wonderful anniversary, mawbroon.

A very special anniversary indeed

Wonderful, congratulations.A gift of 20 years plus extra life. I carry a donor card and have told my family of my wishes, but I will just mention it again today.