Organ donor's widow pays tribute to husband for life-saving gifts he gave

Jane Hall has told how three people received life-saving transplants thanks to her husband George.

An inspirational woman whose husband died aged just 56 with a brain haemorrhage is now promoting organ donation across the community.

Jane Hall, who recently unveiled a memorial paying tribute to donors, spoke of how the sudden death of her husband George encouraged the family to help other people.

Speaking as part of the video story at an NHS Forth Valley board meeting, she said: “When George was taken unwell and admitted to Intensive Care, there was sadly nothing that could be done to save his life.

“The consultant saw us and advised us there was very little chance of survival. She left my son Chris and I for a short time to come to terms with the news.

“During this time, I reminded Chris that we had discussed organ and tissue donation as a family many years before. We decided to go down this route with George. At 56 he was young and healthy and able to give someone his organs.”

Knowing his wishes made supporting donation an easy step at such a hard time. George was able to donate his organs and multiple people received life saving transplants because of his gift.

Jane added : “Together with all the wonderful memories they have of his life with them, his family are so very proud of his final, very special gift of hope to others.

“I said I would tell George’s story and if they could learn something that would be good, I then spoke to ICU nurses, doctors and students.

“A year later I decided to work with the Forth Valley Organ and Tissue Donation Committee to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation.

“I am proud to be part of the memorial project. When I saw the memorial on the wall the first word I saw was hubby and I was proud because I had written it.

“Chris and I are so proud we have this in place. as it makes people stop and look at it.

"We had the strength to carry out his wishes on the day.

“A lady got his heart and two men got his kidneys and I know they are doing well. I want to continue this work and aim to be out one day a month so that more and more people will sign up and be organ and kidney donors."

Supported by the organ donation recognition funds, the memorial, recently unveiled by Jane on Monday at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, is a collective of transplant recipients, organ donors and their families, potential donors and NHS staff members who facilitate the donor and transplant process.

Dr Abigail Short, the Clinical Lead for Organ Donation in Forth Valley also revealed in the video story how donation has been embedded in Forth Valley Royal Hospital and the team strive to ensure there is no missed potential for organ donation.

In the last year they achieved 100 per cent referral and collaboration with organ donation services, resulting in eight patients receiving lifesaving, or life-changing, transplants.

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