A mum who made the difficult decision to donate her son's heart after he suffered a catastrophic brain injury said she "would have always regretted" not agreeing to donation, and said it was a comfort that even in death Connor had saved another life.
Forest Hall mum Honey Sales, a nursing assistant at the Freeman Hospital, suffered tragedy in 2019 when her son Connor Marchbanks, just 24, fell suddenly-ill. Otherwise healthy, the day he fell ill he began complaining of headaches - and devastatingly it transpired that he had a fatal brain injury.
While Connor was in the RVI on life support, Honey decided to ask about organ donation, and although she was initially reluctant, said she was pleased she had decided to go ahead with it - as her son had been able to save another life. She said: "It was devastating – the doctors said that in every other way Connor was so fit and healthy – we couldn’t believe what was happening.
Read more: 'Have the conversation with your loved ones' - Nurse urges families to talk about organ donation
"Initially I said no – he was my only child and organ donation was something we’d never talked about. Connor didn’t carry a card, so I spoke to my mum and his friends, and it was just something that had never been discussed."
But on reflection, Honey felt that helping others was in her son's character, so went ahead. She said: "By donating his organs, he helped a young man in his 20s - and I've even had letters from him. I'm really pleased that I did. I would have regretted not doing it.
"It was so hard because I just didn't know. But now I know Connor has saved somebody's life. He would still have been gone, but if I hadn't decided to agree to donation, so would that young man. It's also nice to think that Connor is still living on somewhere - his heart is still beating."
Connor was enjoying a Chinese takeaway and about to watch Love Island with his parents on July 10 2019 when he started to complain of headaches. Within minutes he became unresponsive and started to suffer seizures, and paramedics rushed him to the RVI in Newcastle. Medics fought to save Connor's life, but despite their best efforts the 24-year-old was pronounced dead two days later.
Honey added that she would encourage others to consider organ donation, even in traumatic circumstances - and she said helping others desperate for a lifesaving organ was a comfort to her. She said: "I would encourage everyone to talk about organ donation. It is such a difficult decision to make if you don’t know what to do.
"“In that moment, you are grieving, it is the worst time of your life but if you can get past that moment – the pride and comfort it brings you afterwards makes things easier."
Organ Donation Week ran from September 26 to October 2. To find out more about organ donation, visit organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision/
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