Otley woman says her children think "daddy is a superhero" for donating his organs after he died
Paul Cooper was killed in a tragic car accident in Beckwithshaw near Harrogate in 2018
A woman whose husband was killed in a car accident in Beckwithshaw, near Harrogate, has said her children think "daddy is a superhero" for donating his organs.
Jess and Paul Cooper - both from Otley - never believed they would have to make the decision on whether to donate their organs if either of them died but they decided to make each other's wishes known.
But Jess was faced with that choice when Paul was killed in December 2018. He fought for eight days on life support before doctors told her he would not survive.
She said: "My instant reaction was yes because if there was another family somewhere who was in our position and that for their loved one to survive they needed an organ I know Paul would've wanted to help.
"It's such a tragic and horrendous time but as I've come through the grieving process it has really helped me. It's given me hope that something of him is left behind. It's just amazing."
When Jess made the decision, his liver, pancreas and kidney were donated to three separate people. She was told two women received donations, one in her 30s and one in her 50s, and a man in his 40s was also given one of Paul's organs.
Now, Jess and Paul's children, Archie and Emilia think their "daddy is a superhero" for saving others.
She said: "It's helped me to explain to the children that their daddy is a real life superhero and that he saved people's lives. There are people out their who are alive because of him and that makes us so proud.
"Archie sometimes struggles with it a little bit. He finds it hard that part of his daddy is alive in someone but he's not alive with him. But children grieve in different ways and stages and I know one day he'll realise what his dad did was an amazing thing."
Since Paul's death Jess has been making memory boxes for children who've had a parent die suddenly. They include a notepad for children to write messages and draw pictures that remind them of fond times with their loved one.
There is also a 'worry monster' toy, story book, memory stick to add photos and videos and inspirational quotes.
This week is Organ Donation Week and families are being encouraged to get together and talk about organ donation.
Despite the law around organ donation changing to an opt-out system for adults in England, Wales and Scotland, families will still be consulted if organ donation is a possibility.
Loved ones can still overturn your decision if they aren't sure what you want, but 9 in 10 families support organ donation going ahead when they know that's what their loved ones had wanted.