Organ Donation Week: Dorset people asked to talk to loved ones
Two staff members at Dorset County Hospital have first-hand experience
A pair of staff members at Dorset County Hospital are calling on people to speak to their loved ones about organ donation.
Service Manager at DCH, Jon Fox, received a liver transplant at the age of eight.
While Kelly Upton, a HR Manager there, saw her seven year old son Louis get a liver transplant last year, aged seven.
Organ Donation Week runs from 26th September to 2nd October, with a push for people to speak to their families about their wishes.
There are currently 50 people across Dorset who are waiting for a transplant - while nationally someone dies every day in need of a new organ.
Kelly's story
Kelly’s son, Louis, has a rare genetic condition and was added to the transplant list in 2019.
Last summer, Kelly and her husband received the call to say there was a match and their seven year old was blue-lighted to King’s College Hospital in London where he received his transplant. She said:
“Organ donation transformed Louis’ life. It has massively impacted the way that his body can cope and will cope as he gets older. It’s important to mark the life of Louis’ donor. Saying thank you will never ever be enough, but we do things as a family to mark Louis’ donor’s life. It’s such a huge range of emotions, because you are so grateful that your family member has received the most incredible gift, but you are also aware that another family is grieving for their loved one.
“Nobody wants to think about their loved ones dying but talking about organ donation is so important as it can transform and save lives, so we really want to make sure people have those conversations and understand the impact that transplants can have on individuals and families.”
Jon story
Jon received a life-saving transplant in 1997 and is passionate about encouraging families to talk about organ donation. He said:
“Just one donor can possibly save nine lives - which is incredible. It’s not a conversation that anybody wants to have, but it’s important to talk with your loved ones so they know your wishes. Without telling loved ones, they may never understand your views around donation and, at the point where the most difficult decision has to be made, your family could stop this – even though it is something that you are passionate about.
“I’ll never be able to thank my donor family enough and I’m incredibly grateful for that gift. It’s made me who I am today, and I don’t take anything for granted.”