Organ Donation Week 2022

For Organ Donation Week, the Trust's Chair of Organ Donation, Caroline Stein has put together the following message:

Monday 26 September to Sunday 2 October is the official Organ Donation Awareness week. All over the country there will be local events, television, press and radio articles and some buildings will turn pink all to raise the awareness of this vital cause.

The message this year is “Leave them certain”. We are trying to encourage everyone to talk to their families and make sure they are aware of your wishes around organ donation. 

The longest surviving heart transplant patient died recently, Steve Syer, was given a further 38 years to enjoy after he received a heart from a victim of a tragic road traffic accident.  He and his wife, Christine, have tirelessly championed organ donation to raise awareness and raised thousands of pounds to support the British Heart Foundation. They are remarkable ambassadors.

I have been lucky enough recently to meet up with Emma Johnson, who is Max’s mother. Max received a heart transplant at the age of 9 from Keira Ball, also aged 9, who sadly was involved in a car accident.  Keira’s organs saved four lives. What a truly wonderful gift.

Max and his family decided to try and help to change the law around consent. After much lobbying a Private Members’ Bill led to the new legislation, the introduction of presumed consent for organ donation in England. The law was named after Max and Keira.

Max is now 14 and enjoying life. The Countess of Chester is very much looking forward to working with Emma as an organ donation ambassador. She is an amazing motivational speaker and extremely knowledgeable. We hope she will be able to help raise the awareness of donation with all the hospital staff in the Trust through various training sessions. 

As Max said “I want everyone to talk to each other” so let’s not miss any opportunities to save or improve another person’s life.

Caroline Stein
Chair of Organ Donation