The family of an organ donor who has given the gift of life - and sight - to others have spoken of their immense pride as they accepted an honour on her behalf. Maham Majeed died suddenly aged just 21 in May, 2021, but her liver, kidneys and her corneas were all donated after her death.
Maham, who lived with her family in Redvales, Bury, and was due to study nursing at college, was posthumously awarded the Order of St John Award for Organ Donation - one of 35 honours given out to organ donors from across Greater Manchester at a recent ceremony in Manchester.
Her mum Nazia, 53, said she felt huge pride and comfort that her daughter had 'saved so many lives' as she spoke out to raise awareness of organ donation. "You don’t really think about these things, especially when someone is young," she said. "It was natural for Maham to think of organ donation, that's just what she was like."
Statistics show more than 4,000 people donated their organs after death in 2019, 2020 and 2021, leading to around 10,000 patients' lives being saved or transformed over the three years.
Nazia added: "Sometimes it is very surreal, sometimes it hits me. It is not easy. Maham was a compassionate human being all her life, she was very concerned about other people and their problems and would help anyone. She was a vegan because she thought it was cruel to kill and eat animals. She had a very tender heart. I remember she mentioned to me wanting to be an organ donor. But I never knew that she joined the register at 18 until she passed away."
Her heart, meanwhile, went to help research.
"It was not easy and my initial reaction was 'I can't let anyone take anything out of my baby's body," said Nazia. "My eldest daughter, Farina, said we should respect Maham's final wish and it was not the right thing to stop it. We found a card in her wallet, too, so it was clear to us and we respected her wishes.
"I've shared with everyone, family and friends, how proud I feel that she has saved so many lives. In our community people don't have awareness of organ donation. I want to make them aware it is something they should consider.
"When you have no life but healthy organs, why not donate them? I don't think it is any problem in the Muslim religion, the most important thing is life, and saving a life - there is nothing bigger. Saving lives is more important then burying healthy organs.
"We know people waiting imagine a phone call is to say an organ is available. It is a chance at life and the biggest gift you can give anyone is the gift of life.
"Her organs have saved so many lives, which is comforting to me. My daughter is no more but her organs have given the spark of life to other people, maybe a daughter or son, wife or husband, brother or sister. It was hard at the funeral to see her body with stitches but at the end of the day you realise that the body is just a body, her legacy is life which is more important. In our religion we say to save one life is to save the whole of humanity.
"It's important people are aware that saving lives is the most important thing you can do. Your loved one is gone but their organs can save lives, and it's comforting. When the soul has gone, a body is just a body. What better thing can there be than saving lives?"
Mick Messinger, Chancellor of the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order of St John, said: "We’re delighted to be able to work with NHS Blood and Transplant to run the Order of St John Awards for Organ Donation again. It is so important to recognise all organ donors and it is an inspiration to meet the families attending the ceremonies.
"Organ donation saves lives, and it is a genuine privilege to be able to say thank you to these families, whose loved ones have had such an impact on others."
The law around organ donation has changed to an opt out system, but families will always be consulted.
Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "The pride families feel at these moving ceremonies truly is inspirational. Transplant patients tell us that organ donors and their families are heroes and the Order of St John award is a chance for us all to recognise them and their amazing contribution to society.
"We hope these awards will inspire people in Greater Manchester to tell their families they want to save lives. Being clear with your family about what you want makes things easier at a difficult time, leave them certain about your organ donation decision. Families say donation is a source of pride that helps them in their grief and we want to ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to donate and save lives.
"Please tell your family about your organ donation decision and join the NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk."
The Order of St John Award for Organ Donation features the organ donation heart logo backed by the Maltese Cross - which is used by the Order of St John - above the words 'add life, give hope'.
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