MOTHER Freda Carter bravely agreed when her son John died of a brain tumour that his heart should be donated to save the life of a stranger.
Now by an astonishing twist of fate she has met the recipient – and felt John’s heartbeat again.
Freda, 66, attended a memorial service for organ donors and as one of the thankful beneficiaries stood up to deliver a reading, she sensed her son’s presence in the room.
Made it all worthwhile.
Bitter sweet story..Mum feels dead son's heart beat
Bitter sweet story..Mum feels dead son's heart beat
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Bitter sweet story..Mum feels dead son's heart beat
Bruv;1459657 wrote: Made it all worthwhile.
Being an organ donor is always worthwhile
Being an organ donor is always worthwhile
Bitter sweet story..Mum feels dead son's heart beat
It makes for a nice story, but I have serious doubts about its credibility, due to the total anonymity of Organ Donation.
Would a donor's family ever know who the recipient was?
Donation and transplantation is an anonymous process. Those involved may want to exchange anonymous letters of thanks or good wishes through the transplant co-ordinators.
However, over time and if both sides want to, NHS Blood and Transplant can facilitate written contact between donor and recipient and this can eventually result in face-to-face contact.
It's not always possible to provide recipient information to donor families for some types of tissue transplant.
(From: Donation: ethics and worries - Live Well - NHS Choices)
I'm all in favour of Organ Donation & even believe that rather than having to voluntarily opt to become a Donor, everyone should be a Donor by default, unless they choose to opt out.
As a point of interest, regardless of the person's own wishes, it has no legal validity anyway as once deceased the body becomes the property of the next of kin to do with as they see fit (or not, as the case may be).
Would a donor's family ever know who the recipient was?
Donation and transplantation is an anonymous process. Those involved may want to exchange anonymous letters of thanks or good wishes through the transplant co-ordinators.
However, over time and if both sides want to, NHS Blood and Transplant can facilitate written contact between donor and recipient and this can eventually result in face-to-face contact.
It's not always possible to provide recipient information to donor families for some types of tissue transplant.
(From: Donation: ethics and worries - Live Well - NHS Choices)
I'm all in favour of Organ Donation & even believe that rather than having to voluntarily opt to become a Donor, everyone should be a Donor by default, unless they choose to opt out.
As a point of interest, regardless of the person's own wishes, it has no legal validity anyway as once deceased the body becomes the property of the next of kin to do with as they see fit (or not, as the case may be).
Bitter sweet story..Mum feels dead son's heart beat
FourPart;1459677 wrote:
As a point of interest, regardless of the person's own wishes, it has no legal validity anyway as once deceased the body becomes the property of the next of kin to do with as they see fit (or not, as the case may be).
I don't know how it works in other countries but as far as I can find out, if you have applied to be a (registered) donor then that is it. You are a donor. Family can't go against that.
The day I turned 18 I applied for my donor card.
As a point of interest, regardless of the person's own wishes, it has no legal validity anyway as once deceased the body becomes the property of the next of kin to do with as they see fit (or not, as the case may be).
I don't know how it works in other countries but as far as I can find out, if you have applied to be a (registered) donor then that is it. You are a donor. Family can't go against that.
The day I turned 18 I applied for my donor card.