Gift that helped save lives

Nothing can bring back Angelique Halliwell’s son, but knowing his death saved five others does bring some comfort. Angelique was devastated when her beloved son, Michael, a father of two, was killed in a car crash in Pannal eight years ago, aged just 36.

She took the difficult decision to allow her son’s organs to be donated to save others.

“We’d talked about it before as a family and I am sure he had a donor card somewhere and when he died I felt it was the right thing to do.”

Five people’s lives were saved which brought Angelique some comfort through her grieving.

“It takes time but I felt it was important that something good should come out of something so horrific.”

Angelique is now a member of the Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust Organ and Tissue donation group and also works hard to raise awareness of organ donation.Now she is one of 33 people being invited to receive an award at a glittering ceremony at St James’s Palace.

Created by global healthcare charity the Order of St John alongside NHS Blood and Transplant, the award will be presented by Their Royal Highnesses (TRH) the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester posthumously to the men and women whose deaths have saved lives and given hope.

A spokesman for the Order of St John said: “This award has been created for two purposes – to say thank you to families whose loved ones have already donated and to inspire more people to follow in their footsteps and sign up to be an organ donor.

“Around three people die every day due to the shortage of organs and there are 10,000 people in the UK in need of a transplant. Having the ability to save and improve people’s lives by donating your organs is a wonderful, selfless thing to do and we recognise the need to celebrate this.”

Sally Johnson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “A change in public attitudes around donation is needed across the UK if more lives are going to be saved through organ transplantation. We need everyone to be proud 
to donate, when and if they can.

“We hope receiving this new award will mean a great deal to those who have lost someone close to them but also give them renewed pride in their decision to agreed to donation.

“We are grateful to every single one of the 1,212 deceased donors which helped to increase the number of people benefitting from an organ transplant for the eighth year in succession.

“If we are to save even more lives, more people need to sign up to be a donor, more people need to discuss donation with those close to them and more families need to support donation on behalf of a loved one.”

An invitation to receive the award will be sent on an annual basis to the loved ones of all UK organ donors. Donors’ loved ones who do not wish to attend a ceremony can choose to have it sent to them privately.

Angelique says if the awards raise awareness of organ donation then she is in favour of it.

“It is really important to recognise the families of donors as well as the donors,” she says.

“Many years ago the families weren’t considered at all but now they are and that’s why I was happy to join the Harrogate Hospital group.”

Angelique, sometimes joined by Michael’s daughter Danielle, gives talks to sixth formers about the importance of organ donation and a seven foot tall poster of Michael greets them everytime they enter the hospital.

“It was shock at first to see him there, but now I have got used to it and I always say hello to him. I also get lots of messages from people saying they have seen him and how it encouraged them to become organ donors.

“We miss him of course but we are doing well now.”

While supporting an ‘opt out’ donation policy, Angelique believe it needs to go further.

“At the moment the family can veto a person’s wishes. I personally believe the donor’s wishes should be upheld no matter what.”

The launch ceremony will take place at St James’s Palace in London next Wednesday at 1pm.

Twitter@ypcscott

Join the donor register

There are around three people dying each day due to the shortage of organs.

There are roughly 10,000 people in the UK who need a transplant.

One donor could save or enhance the lives of nine people.

Less than 5,000 people a year die in circumstances where they can donate.

Last year 4,213 patients had their lives saved or improved by an organ transplant.

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 2323.