Wadebridge mum promotes organ donation following son's life-saving contributions

Eight-year-old Theo Kempthorne's organ donation saved four lives

Theo Kempthorne
Author: Anna DaviesPublished 13 hours ago

A mother from Wadebridge is sharing the powerful impact of organ donation, following her eight-year-old son Theo Kempthorne's life-saving legacy that helped save four critically ill patients.

Theo was born with hydrocephalus, a condition resulting from a build-up of fluid in the brain, and underwent surgery at birth to install a shunt to drain the fluid.

Despite many years without issues, the shunt malfunctioned eight years later, causing brain damage.

Theo passed away suddenly in 2024, but his heart, kidneys, pancreas, and liver were donated to individuals in need, including a child and people in their thirties.

His mother, Gemma, expresses her longing for Theo, yet hopes that his story will inspire more people to consider becoming organ donors.

"He loved going to school, he just loved the little things in life. He was a fighter and he lived every day to the full. He was always smiling."

Gemma encourages families to discuss organ donation, emphasising the transformative effects it can have on others' lives.

Prior to her pregnancy, Gemma had read about the life-saving potential of organ donations and now seeks to honour Theo's legacy by raising awareness.

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