Donor Stories
Alfred's Story
Alfred queued in the local post office with his daughter Irene Jessop and casually picked up a leaflet. Little did he know it, but this decision started a process which was to bring great comfort and pride during a painful and difficult time for his family.
Irene, Alfred’s daughter explains, "We were waiting in the queue and I noticed that dad picked up a donor card leaflet. I didn’t think anything of it until, during a quiet coffee later in the day, he got it out and asked me what I thought about donating organs. I think he was really keen on the idea of helping people, he just needed some reassurance. It was probably because he was a very proud man, especially about his appearance. I work for a funeral directors and so I was able to tell him that donors are treated with a lot of respect and he had nothing to worry about. About a month later I asked him whether he had filled in the form. He had."
When Alfred Oldfield died suddenly,his family knew what he would have wanted. By offering his tissues for the benefit of others, his family has carried out his wishes and helped many seriously ill patients.
Martyn's Story
Martyn was only 23 when his life ended suddenly in a road traffic accident. Yet in the middle of their tragedy, only hours after his death, his family decided to let others be helped through the donation of Martyn’s tissues. His mother, Maureen, says, "Martyn had had a donor card since he was nine. The fact that Martyn was a donor and that he helped so many others has brought us some comfort. He was simply the best." His girlfriend Vicki says, "Martyn would have helped anyone, and I am proud that he carried on doing that after he died."