Organ Donation Week - meet the Yorkshire mum whose husband saved three lives

Jess Cooper takes comfort from knowing that her two young children will grow up "knowing that their Daddy is a real-life superhero".
Jess Cooper, with children Archie, seven, and Emilia, three Picture: Jonathan GawthorpeJess Cooper, with children Archie, seven, and Emilia, three Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe
Jess Cooper, with children Archie, seven, and Emilia, three Picture: Jonathan Gawthorpe

This week is Organ Donation Week and Jess is urging people to let their loved ones know what their wishes are.

The introduction of Max and Keira’s law in May means adults in England are considered to have given consent to become organ donors, unless they have opted out or their family decides it wasn’t what they would have wanted.

In Jess's case there was no hesitation.

Paul CooperPaul Cooper
Paul Cooper
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Husband Paul - who would have been 36 in August - fought for his life for eight days in Leeds General Infirmary after suffering severe brain damage in a "freak" car accident at Beckwithshaw, near Harrogate, in 2018.

When it came to withdrawing treatment and the subject of organ donation came up, Jess said "yes" immediately.

The pair met through mutual friends in 2010 - she was attracted by his "cheeky grin" - and they married five years later at Otley Parish Church.

Jess, mother to Archie, seven, and Emilia, three, from Church Fenton, near Tadcaster, said: "He was a really caring person, who would have done anything for anyone.

Jess and Paul got married at Otley Parish Church in 2015Jess and Paul got married at Otley Parish Church in 2015
Jess and Paul got married at Otley Parish Church in 2015
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"Knowing how much he loved and idolised his children, if he could prolong it so someone could live longer and see their children grow up, he would definitely have done it."

Three people benefitted from organs donated by her husband - two women, one in her 30s and the other in her 50s, and a man in his 40s.

New figures show the number of people waiting for an organ transplant has risen to a five-year high - some 6,700 currently - as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jess said her children were doing very well, although she worries about the impact on her son, who was older when his father died.

Jess Cooper is urging people to tell their loved ones whether they want to be an organ donor or notJess Cooper is urging people to tell their loved ones whether they want to be an organ donor or not
Jess Cooper is urging people to tell their loved ones whether they want to be an organ donor or not
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They moved house just before lockdown to get away from the "memories what could have been" in their family home.

The morning of his death Paul, a motor vehicle technician, left home "so happy and full of laughter".

She said: “Paul was an amazing daddy, husband, and friend. I always talk about him, It's like he's still here."

Since he died, she and some of his "amazing" friends did a fundraiser to provide memory boxes for children who lose parents suddenly.

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She hopes it will help other children, as a "chest of Paul’s things we put together really help not just the children but me also."

She said ward staff on the neuro ICU ward at Leeds General Infirmary "couldn't have done more" for her, letting them peacefully stay with Paul, after life support was withdrawn.

This Thursday she was invited by the sister on the ward to speak to critical care nurses about her experiences and she was able to drop off more of the memory boxes.

Jess said it felt good to be part of raising awareness of all the families whose loved ones had made organ donations so they were not forgotten.

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She said: "I find great comfort in knowing that there are people out there today alive because of my husband and feel so proud of him.

""If there is one thing you can do after reading this is please tell your loved ones whether you would like to be an organ donor or not!"

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