15 September 2023 , 20:20
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More than 60,000 Britons are alive today thanks to lifesaving organ donations.
They have been given a second chance by 44,491 deceased donors, according to NHS records that go back to the 1970s. Since 2013, the bereaved families have been offered the Order of St John Award for Organ Donation to honour their loved ones’ vital. About 10,000 donors have been recognised like this since, including Aari Patel.
The three-year-old saved two other children’s lives by donating seven organs after his tragic death in an accident at home in 2016. A year later, his grieving parents Jay and Sina were proud to pick up the Order of St John on his behalf. On Friday, at a special event to celebrate the posthumous awards’ 10th anniversary the Duke of Gloucester – the late Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin – unveiled a memorial in London dedicated to all Britain’s heroic organ donors.
Simon Williams, the Chancellor of the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order of St John, said: “This award represents the very best of humanity, recognising extraordinary people who seek to help others if the worst should happen to them. Every person who is recognised has their own story, yet they are united in their life-changing impact on others who are facing their own hour of great need.
Aari as a baby with parents Jay and Sina“The memorial, which His Royal Highness has unveiled today, will be a place of quiet reflection for families who know the cost of the generosity of their loved ones, 10 years after the creation of the Award.” The Duke unveiled a special plaque for the donors at the Museum of the Order of St John, in Clerkenwell, Central London.
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Transplants are now more likely after the Mirror’s successful three-year campaign to change the law in England to one of presumed consent. Anthony Clarkson, of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Over 60,000 people are alive thanks to organ donors and their families saying yes, but thousands more are still waiting for a life-saving donation.
“We’re very proud to have worked with the Order of St John for ten years to honour so many organ donors and it is wonderful to unveil a tribute to all organ and tissue donors at the heart of our capital. We hope everyone will be inspired to confirm their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register to help save more lives.”
I was so proud to collect Aari’s award
Aari Patel, aged three, became an organ donor in 2016 after an accident at home. His parents Jay and Sina, from Croydon, South London, received the award on his behalf a year later. Jay said: “I’ll never forget what the ceremony was like. We’d never met another donor family and to be among other people in similar circumstances all receiving the award, was amazing, sad but amazing for Aari to be recognised for his selfless sacrifice to save others.
“I still remember when his name was called I was so proud to collect Aari’s award, it was emotional. We have Aari’s award up at home in his room, it reminds us he has been recognised for what he has done. I always tell people Aari died but we celebrate the fact that he has helped others. We’re so proud of him.
"Aari’s donation brings comfort and joy and is something to celebrate. Some people find it hard to talk to us about Aari because he has died. Organ donation and the award allow us to talk about Aari positively.”
'It was so important for him to have his organs donated'
Odette Ward, from Aberdare, Wales, who was one of the donor families invited to the launch of the awards in 2013, where she received the award on her husband Paul’s behalf. Dad-of-two Paul, who worked as an operating department practitioner (ODP) in Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, had a fall and dislocated his shoulder in 2007. During an operation his condition deteriorated and he died aged 38.
Odette, 56, said: “We as a family were both surprised and honoured to receive the award. We were told at the ceremony that we were the first Welsh family to receive the award, this made us proud that Paul had his wish fulfilled. It was so important for him to have his organs donated if anything happened to him and we’d talked about it.”
After Paul dislocated his shoulder, once at hospital they tried to manipulate his shoulder manually back in to place but unfortunately were unable to. He went to theatre to have it put back into place and due to complications he was sick and breathed it into his lungs and ended up in intensive care.
His brain had been starved of oxygen and he died a few days later. Odette added: “We know that five people have gained life thanks to Paul, that in turn numbers so many more people helped because their families have their loved one with them. Paul believed that everyone deserves a second chance and as his death gave life to others, then it was his way of giving that.”
* For more information on the official register you can visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.
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