Offering hope when it seems there’s none left
“I am always amazed by the strength and bravery of the families I meet; they are the reason I do this job. It is really humbling to see how proud someone is when their loved one has become a donor.
A patient will only be referred to the organ donation team once the medical team caring for them has tried everything to save them and decided that there is nothing more they can do to help them.
Before a family is approached about organ donation it is really important that I work with the clinical team who have been caring for the patient and their family, as they are the ones who have already built up a relationship.
I have to be sensitive because people have just been told the worst news ever and are dealing with immense grief having been told their loved one isn’t coming home.
It is very emotional but we are giving them the option and a choice to donate, which gives them so much comfort amidst all that tragedy.
As a former intensive care nurse, I am used to supporting families in very emotional situations and now - as an expert in organ donation - I have to make sure families have all the information they need to be able to make an informed decision that is right for them.
A relative once said that if donating their loved one’s organs would stop someone else going through the same grief they were, then they knew it was something they had to do.
In Wesley’s case, his mum knew that her son wanted to be an organ donor and she was determined to make his wishes come true and as a result, his organs went on to save several lives.
I have to gather lots of information about the donor, such as their past medical, social and travel history, and then I begin contacting transplant centres around the country to find a suitable match for the organs.
Once we find a donor match, the family are told the news and the patient is taken down to theatre. I stay with the patient throughout the surgery and perform care after death with the hospital staff which, as a nurse, is such a privilege to do. Throughout the process a vital part of my role is supporting the family with any special requirements such as collecting handprints and locks of hair as keepsakes.
I always ensure I balance my time between supporting the family and doing everything I can to make sure their wishes of donating organs are realised.
It is a really busy time but I feel satisfied knowing that I have been able to support the family through this incredibly difficult time.
It’s amazing that people are prepared to give the gift of life to someone they have never even met and that’s why I am so proud to be able to play a part in making it all happen.”