Dad whose 10 month old son was an organ donor urges people in Rutland to speak about their wishes

It comes as this week marks Organ Donation Week

Author: Lettie BuxtonPublished 24th Sep 2021

A father, whose 10 month old son was an organ donor, is urging people in Rutland to talk to their loved ones about their wishes.

It comes as this week (20 to 26 September) marks Organ Donation Week.

Bodie Hodges was just 10 months old when died.

His parents chose to donate his organs, saving the lives of two children, and his heart valves.

Bodie's dad, Nick Hodges, told Greatest Hits Radio Stamford and Rutland why they made that decision:

"We decided that we thought that it would be a really important thing to do, to continue his legacy and to give other children another chance in life.

"Also that it would be the one positive thing that could come from what had been an absolutely horrendous situation."

Bodie's family went on to form the Bodie Hodges Foundation in 2012, with the aim of supporting families who have been bereaved of a child and promoting organ donation.

Nick is encouraging people to start a conversation with their family about their wishes this Organ Donation Week:

"Please, have the conversation.

"Start the conversation with someone in your family or your friends and then share what your wishes are.

"It could save lives, it could be the most important conversation you do have and it could also prevent a very difficult time for a family when they're in distress.

"I often think as a parent, as a father, that there are two children now who are leading - I don't know who they are, we've never pushed to try to find out who they are - they've got their own lives to lead now.

"Bodie's done his bit, but it's lovely to know that they are out there now able to lead a relatively normal life because of the actions that my son and the fight he put up to be able to be an organ donor.

"Naturally I think all of us think 'I don't like the idea of someone taking something out of me', but you don't feel anything.

"You don't need those things when you're moving on.

"It's a case of, they actually could make a difference to somebody else who is at death's door."

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