An 18-year-old student who died of cardiac arrest in her university halls is one of Merseyside's organ donor heroes.
Emily Jane Gore, from Prescot, took ill while studying at the University of Manchester in early 2020. Emily suffered a cardiac arrest in her halls of residence and was rushed to hospital but never recovered.
Emily's family said the teenager had re-joined the organ donor register when she was 16 and, because of this, she was able to help four people, including a child, following her passing. Emily is just one of Merseyside's organ donor heroes - and the NHS have urged people to join the register and become a lifesaver.
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The NHS Blood and Transplant, which oversees organ donation in the UK, is calling on everyone in the country to add their name and decision to the register. Every organ donor can save up to nine lives after they die by giving their organs to patients waiting for a transplant.
Twenty-seven people in Merseyside became a donor after their death in 2021/22 - and 53 patients waiting for a transplant received the life-changing gift last year. Donor families from Merseyside recently received the Order of St John award for organ donation on behalf of their loved ones.
Emily's award was accepted by her mum Nichola and younger brother Paddy. Nichola said: "Emily and Paddy have been on the register since they were children. I have always been on the register and feel passionately about the importance of organ donation. It was something I discussed with the children as my feeling is you can’t take the organs with you and if me, or the children, had ever needed an organ then you would want someone to help you."
Nichola added: "Emily donated her lungs, pancreas, liver, kidneys and tissue. The nursing staff were so kind and compassionate, they even asked what Emily’s favourite music was so they could play this to her during surgery. She was so well looked after and this was a massive comfort to us. Receiving the award on behalf of Emily was lovely. It felt really special for Emily to be honoured in this way."
Ged Smith suffered a bleed on the brain when he was 31. The Liverpool man had suffered headaches and blurred vision for a few days and thought they were connected to migraines. When he completely lost his vision he was rushed to A&E and put under sedation but he suffered catastrophic injuries from which he never recovered.
Ged's mum Diane accepted the award on his behalf calling him the "most beautiful person inside and out". She added: "Everyone loved him and we miss him so much. Ged donated his heart, liver, kidneys, lungs and corneas, helping at least six people. We are so proud of him and as a family have all now joined the organ donor register.
"We have not heard from his recipients as yet but would love to hear how they are. I know it must be hard to write a letter but if they just could send the words ‘Thank you’ to us it would mean so much."
Claire Eaton died of meningitis in 2020 when she was 34. Claire, from Ainsdale, left behind her husband Chris and daughter Daisy. Chris said Claire had joined the organ donor registration twice saying: "This was so reminiscent of Claire and made me smile during the hardest time of my life."
Claire saved the lives of five people by donating her kidneys, liver, heart and lungs. Chris said: "Claire was strong willed and when she felt strongly about something she gave it her all. But she was also a very busy mum to Daisy and would sometimes forget she had done something so would do it again to double check and be extra sure."
Chris added: "Receiving the award on behalf of Claire was lovely. We saw some of the staff that looked after Claire and this was really nice. We also felt that we weren’t alone by meeting some of the other families at the ceremony. Organ donation is a true reflection of Claire’s selfless nature and as a family we are so unbelievably proud of her. Our beautiful girl did not do things by halves and by joining the register twice we had no hesitation in agreeing. She has inspired more of her family and friends to join the register too."
Diane Rimmer's award was accepted on her behalf by husband Paul. Paul said Diane, from Bootle, was taken ill on the morning of her 56th birthday in August 2021. She collapsed at home and was rushed to hospital.
The cause of Diane’s collapse was identified as a bleed on the brain from which sadly Diane would not recover. Paul said the family was approached about organ donations and agreed as they knew it was Diane's wish. Diane donated her kidneys, skin and heart tissue - and saved the lives of two people.
Paul said: "Diane was a kind and wonderful woman. She was very hard working and loved working for Sefton Council for over 30 years. Diane adored her family, me, our three daughters and three grandchildren.
"She was always happy and content just being with us and was taken from us much too early. There aren’t enough words to describe our loss but agreeing to organ donation has helped bring a little comfort in knowing that there are people out there that Diane is helping."
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