One of the most important things that we do in life is decide what to do when our lives are over. It’s an intensely personal thing to do and, well, if you don’t do it ahead of time, someone else will decide for you.
So anything that will help make that decision a bit easier is welcome. As we’re seeing, a decision to provide some info on what happens with the organs people donate is proving to be quite helpful indeed.
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Corinne Hynes, 26, had planned on marrying David Llewellyn, 28, but, sadly, fate had other plans.
She and David, her fiancee and father of her son, had been together for nine years when he passed away from a brain tumor, before they could tie the knot.
However, David was a hero in the end, and a letter from Britain’s National Health Service confirmed it.
David died an organ donor, and his donation didn’t remain anonymous. The incredibly moving letter detailed how his donation affected the lives of five strangers in dire need.
One man had been waiting on the transplant for over a year before David saved his life.
He received a kidney and a pancreas from David. His other kidney went to a woman in her 30s who had been waiting on the list for more than five years. Another woman in her 30s received a double lung transplant thanks to David, a man in his 50s received David’s liver, and another man in his 50s “received a lifesaving heart transplant.”
Although Corinne is obviously heartbroken, she’s also able to hold David up as a shining example for their son.
“I want Jude to grow up and see what an absolute hero his daddy is and was,” she told The Sun . He was a real gentleman and even in his death is teaching his son how to share, and care for others.”
Corinne says that “It is a real comfort for us to know David has helped others.”
“He was always a hero throughout his life and he’s now a hero forever,” she said. “It makes me feel better to know someone out there will have his heart for example. I want to raise awareness about it so more people can be helped.”
And it looks like his story is indeed raising awareness and helping out.
Corinne’s cousin, Faye, shared her letter on Twitter, and a few people tweeted that they’d been inspired to sign up as an organ donor thanks to David’s example.
Many others are sharing their own organ donation stories of how their loved ones had saved strangers.
They all say that the similar letters they had received brought them some measure of peace.
“My aunt and uncle received a similar letter after my cousin Robert died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage,” wrote @stephsputnik . He was on duty as a policeman when it struck, but his gift to others brought our family immense comfort. I so hope it comforts your family too, and am sorry for your loss.
And several other organ recipients whose lives had been saved by donors shared their stories as well.
It’s hard to imagine a more fitting tribute to David’s generosity and memory than that.
