A North East Lincolnshire woman has told how her husband saved the lives of three people following his death.
Phil Kershaw was just 38 when he developed severe depression and attempted suicide in December 2021.
Despite being resuscitated and taken to the Intensive Care Unit at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby, tests found there was no activity in his brain.
Although they had never discussed organ donation, wife Caroline knew Phil had ticked the box on his driving licence, signalling his wish to donate his organs in the event of his death, and went ahead with his wishes.
“It was just so sad and Phil’s mum and I wanted something positive to come out of it,” she said. “I knew people who’d had transplants and the difference it had made to their lives. I knew what a gift it was to give.”
Caroline, who lives with her two young children now aged 13 and 15 in Grimsby, is sharing her story as part of Organ Donation Awareness Week, which runs from September 21 to 27.
More than 8,000 people in the UK are currently waiting for a transplant and each donation can save up to nine lives.
Phil saved three people through the donation of his kidneys, pancreas, heart valves and liver including a young mum, who was able to go on holiday for the first time with her daughter and a man who’d spent years on the transplant waiting list.
Caroline said: “Phil made a difference to all those lives. Organ donation is not something any of us want to think about but I always think what would I have wanted to do.
“Out of a really sad situation, you are giving someone else real happiness.”
Lisa Cochrane, Specialist Nurse in Organ Donation at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, encouraged people to sign the organ donation register and to share their decision with their families.
She said: “We’re so grateful to the decision Caroline and other members of Phil’s family made and we will always remember them for taking such a brave step to help other people.
“No one wants to think about their own death or the death of a loved one but organ donation can and does save lives.”
*When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123 or visit www. samaritans.org for more ways to speak to a Samaritan.
