Surrey parents say organ donation helped them cope with losing their son
Claire and Mark Elliott lost their son George when he was just 23 years old after he suffered a catastrophic aneurysm and collapsed at work in August 2015.
A couple whose son died suddenly in 2015 are sharing his story as Organ Donation Week begins.
Claire and Mark Elliott lost their son George when he was just 23 years old after he suffered a catastrophic aneurysm and collapsed at work in August 2015.
Despite the efforts of emergency services, including a crew from Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, George died.
George became interested in organ donation at the age of 11, after watching a television programme about the subject with his parents.
When George died in August 2015, the decision he had made years earlier meant his organs could be used to help others.
He later carried an organ donor card and made clear to his family that he wanted to donate his organs if anything happened to him.
His organs went on to help nine people, including a young child and a man who received his heart and lungs when he was just hours from death.
Mark says being able to help so many people has helped them cope with the loss of their son
"It means that life isn't completely wasted. You know, he was a fit, healthy young man and has been able to help an awful lot of other people. And that gives us a lot of comfort as a family as well."
Claire explains how just the concept of it is helping the family
"I think knowing that there are people out there that have got a little bit of George and how much he's helped them. You know, because with the organ donation, it's not just the main organs, it's everything. It's skin grafts.
They took muscles from him, corneas, and it's so a lot of it doesn't necessarily save someone's life, but it enhances their life."
Claire and Mark were able to meet the family of the man who had the life saving transplant which involved George's heart and lungs
Mark tells us it was an emotional yet rewarding experience
"So meeting them was a very emotional experience, but one we were very grateful for.
He had a wife and two young children and he was literally 24 hours from death when these organs became available and it saved his life"
In the years since George's death, his family and friends have raised funds Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex.
They have also worked to raise awareness of organ donation, encouraging others to consider registering their own wishes.
Claire and Mark are speaking about George's story as Organ Donation Week runs from the 21st to the 28th September, a national campaign encouraging more people to discuss and register their organ donation decisions.