Family donates £14,000 to Leeds neonatal unit months after Minnie's extraordinary gift of life

The parents of Yorkshire's youngest ever organ donor, Minnie Duggleby, have returned to the Leeds neonatal unit where their daughter was born to donate more than £14,000.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd May 2016, 05:00 BST
Liam and Ami Duggleby pictured with their newborn daughter April Grace and the neonatal team at Leeds General Infirmary after handing over £14,000.Liam and Ami Duggleby pictured with their newborn daughter April Grace and the neonatal team at Leeds General Infirmary after handing over £14,000.
Liam and Ami Duggleby pictured with their newborn daughter April Grace and the neonatal team at Leeds General Infirmary after handing over £14,000.

Ami and Liam Duggleby lost their daughter due to congenital heart problems at just 23 days old last year, but the family allowed her kidneys to be used to save the life of a young adult on the transplant waiting list.

The couple, from Little Driffield, East Yorkshire, have returned to Leeds General Infirmary to donate the proceeds of a charity ball held in Hull in memory of Minnie. They also brought along their adorable newborn daughter April Grace.

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Among other things, the donation will fund the neonatal unit’s first specially designed twin cots to help bonding between twins after birth.

Ami, 29, said: “We’re so pleased the unit will be able to put the money to good use and that there will be equipment helping other babies in memory of Minnie.”

The couple, who also have a young daughter named Lilly, will also attend the Queen’s garden party at Buckingham Palace tomorrow for their work raising awareness of organ donation.

Ami and Liam are supporters of the YEP-backed Be A Hero campaign, which saw 42,000 people in Yorkshire sign the NHS Organ Donor Register during its first five months last year.

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Be A Hero launched after it emerged that just 29 Leeds families consented to organ donation in 2014 as around 800 people in the county awaited crucial transplants.

Minnie Duggleby became Yorkshire's first neonatal organ donor when her kidneys were used to save the life of a young adult last year.Minnie Duggleby became Yorkshire's first neonatal organ donor when her kidneys were used to save the life of a young adult last year.
Minnie Duggleby became Yorkshire's first neonatal organ donor when her kidneys were used to save the life of a young adult last year.

Dr Sharon English, neonatal consultant at LGI, said: “Minnie already gave a wonderful gift of life to others and this incredibly generous fundraising will mean her legacy will live on here in the unit.”

For more on Be A Hero or to sign the NHS Organ Donor Register visit leedsth.nhs.uk/be-a-hero.

Related topics:LeedsYorkshire