Organ Donation in Memory of Sandra

[supersally]

(img)http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/picture.php?albumid=1209&pictureid=6851(/img)
This is Sandra and was taken the day before a tragic accident on the lane where she lived, near Talgarth in Mid Wales. A fall from her horse onto the road resulted in head injuries which were to prove fatal and she died in hospital eleven days later, on 18th November.

Words cannot express the shock and grief felt by Sandra’s family and many friends, but it gives great comfort to them that others are now able to benefit from the fact that Sandra was an organ donor. The donation of her liver, kidneys and corneas will change the lives of five other people and their families.

So many of us have good intentions of becoming donors ourselves but put off doing anything about it. It’s actually very simple to do and one can either register on line

http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/how_to_become_a_donor.jsp

or fill in a form at a local surgery or pharmacy.

Sadly there’s nothing we can do to bring Sandra back, but we ask that in her memory you become an organ donor too and urge your family friends to do the same.

See H&H Report http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/303993.html

Also if you are on facebook please pass this link on to your friends
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Become-an-organ-donor-in-memory-of-Sandra/148948481819345?v=wall

 

[ThePony]

What a tragic story, but a very good thread.
With organ donation you give many people the gift of life with organs that are sadly of no further use to you.

It is the most incredible gift it is possible to give.

Sign up!!!

 

[tinkandlily]

I have seen that story on a couple of other fourms, very tragic.
I am an organ donor, i would happily take an organ so i feel i should give one back, and think anyone who would take one, also take one should give one back.
It needs to be an opt out system rather than an opt in one.

 

[Luci07]

Bump - can I also add that more blood is desperately needed at this time of year and its very easy? even a wimp like me found it to be very straightforward and it doesn't take much time.

 

[tinkandlily]

Bump - can I also add that more blood is desperately needed at this time of year and its very easy? even a wimp like me found it to be very straightforward and it doesn't take much time.

I have gave blood, but i'm not allowed anymore due to being preggers
I have noticed that some people think it's rare blood types that are needed the most when it's acutally the common types that they are running out of.
So anyone who would recive blood, do the right thing and give it back.

 

[starsky]

Agree 100% hence the link in my sig...
Also if you are signing up for giving blood or organ donation, how about the bone marrow register? Go for the treble

http://www.anthonynolan.org/What-you-can-do/save-a-life/Online-application.aspx

 

[alwaysbroke]

Words will not express how grateful other families will be to Sandra and her family.

For many year I worked on a Neruo ITU and cared for people in this tragic situation, I always felt that the families, no matter how upset they were, would at some point gain comfort from donation.

What I didnt realise at the time was how grateful my family would one day become, our son was 6 months old and had been given a week left to live, donations of livers were strangely low, we had been prepared for the worst.

Then, because of a tragedy that befell another family our son was given a chance, this is him 6 yrs on.

Lead Rein Champion at the local show, 2nd year running


I dont mean to hijack this post, but Mini D_K means the world to me, his dad and his sisters, and without his transplant I dread to think what our lives would have been like.

Please sing up for the organ donation register.

 

[madbluebell]

Very sad story but thank you so much for the link which I have duly signed up for as not sure where my donor card is anymore.

Am on the Anthony Nolon register already which is another worthwhile cause indeed.

RIP Sandra

 

[Luci07]

I have gave blood, but i'm not allowed anymore due to being preggers
I have noticed that some people think it's rare blood types that are needed the most when it's acutally the common types that they are running out of.
So anyone who would recive blood, do the right thing and give it back.

Yup, I am nicely common (A+) which does mean they need MORE.

And I had meant to say RIP Sandra and I hope that her family can gain a small amount of comfort from this thread and at some point think this thread should be made into a "sticky".

 

[supersally]

Alwaysbroke
What a fantastic personal story to back up the importance of organ donation. Please can you tell me how you managed to post the photo as I only seem to have managed a link but would have liked to have posted the photo. Sandra was such a lovely kind hearted person who will be so sadly missed by everyone who knew her.

 

[supersally]

Apologies re the photo which I am trying to correct

 

[Fizzbw]

Sandra on the day before her accident.

Sandra will be sadly missed and she was a mainstay of the horse world in our area - it was so tragic and unnecessary. She had the best of care at the Heath Hospital at Cardiff, but even their expert help was not enough. That her death allowed others to live and improve their life is wonderful and an example of the generosity of Sandra and her family.

I only met Sandra a few times, but she was so anxious to help me, as I have a disability and so wanted to go hunting, and she was so willing to go beyond the call of duty to make that possible for me.

Niki x

 

[FanyDuChamp]

Been one of those things I have meant to do for ever. All done now and OH too.
FDC

 

[Whoopit]

I'm an Organ Donor - have been for years

On the basis that I have a horse, ride motorbikes, race yachts, ski and generally like anything to do with stupidity, it should be by deduction of chance that one day I may very well need a donor or could donate organs myself.

I'm signed up to donate everything but eye-related as they are useless - can't take these things with you people!!

 

[Jesstickle]

How very sad.

I am on the organ donor list and have been for years but have recently persuaded OH to join too.

I am also a regular blood donor ( am coming up to fifteen now) and I can reiterate as an O pos (the most common type) person if you are common that is even better.

I am sure one day I will need one of these as I have dangerous beasts and wouldn't want to take without giving.

 

[alwaysbroke]

Alwaysbroke
What a fantastic personal story to back up the importance of organ donation. Please can you tell me how you managed to post the photo as I only seem to have managed a link but would have liked to have posted the photo. Sandra was such a lovely kind hearted person who will be so sadly missed by everyone who knew her.

Thank you

have sent a pm re photo upload

RIP Sandra x

 

[TinselRider]

Been on the register for years, I'm of the opinion of when I am gone I won't need organs so why burn them when they could save the lives of others?

 

[supersally]

Thank you for your pm but luckily someone brighter than me has managed to post the photo !
By the way what a lovely photos of your son especially the one with all the photos & trophies. Hopefully some family somewhere takes comfort in the fact that their loss saved someone elses life.

 

[supersally]

Been one of those things I have meant to do for ever. All done now and OH too.
FDC

Thanks FanyDuChamp
That is exactly the sort of response that we want & I think that just a quick look at Alwaysbroke's son will spur people on to realise how important it is.

 

[BigJeana]

This picture of Sandra was painted a few years ago and was reproduced on the back of the order of service at a Service of Thanksgiving for her life which was held yesterday, 3rd December. Many paid tribute to her and the service ended with the poignant sound of the hunting horn calling "gone to ground".

Her family urge everyone to consider joining the organ donor system. Sandra's last act of generosity helped a number of people in severe difficulties and shows what good can be achieved.

 

[Clannad48]

I am a donor of everything - even going so far as to donate my body to medical science when I am gone - if they want it that is. One comment I would make is PLEASE PLEASE make sure you discuss your wish to donate with your family beforehand. Sometimes in the throes of grief those people left behind do not want to make that final decision and sometimes leave it too late for the organs to be of any use.

Personally I would prefer an opt-out system

 

[FanyDuChamp]

Bump up for such a terrific cause.

 

[BigJeana]

Anyone can register. Age isn't a barrier to becoming an organ or tissue donor - people in their 70s and 80s have become donors and saved many lives. Most medical conditions don't rule you out either.

One donor can save or transform up to nine lives. It's only through the generosity of people like you that lives can be saved.

 

[supersally]

Bump ! hope to keep this thread going over the weekend

 

[Chumsmum]

I have registered and 'bump'

 

[BigJeana]

I'd love to be able to tell Sandra's family that this thread has had a 1000 "views"

If you haven't registered and would like to, here's the link again. It only takes a moment or two.

http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/how_to_become_a_donor.jsp

 

[SillySausage]

Been meaning to do this for ages, thank you for giving me the final push

 

[BigJeana]

Thanks Mistletoe

Statistics show that 96% of us would take an organ if we needed one, yet only 27% of us have taken action and joined the NHS Organ Donor Register!

 

[rainbow84uk]

Fantastic post and one which has dragged me out of lurkdom.

Organ donation is something I've felt very strongly about for as long as I can remember, and I've carried a donor card since I was a child. I think I registered myself on the NHS list a long time ago by post but I just signed up again online to be sure.

My heart goes out to Sandra's family and friends, but I hope that knowing that she has helped to save people's lives will give them some comfort.

xx

 

[Biscuit]

Bump!

I am sad to hear about Sandra and my thoughts go out to her family and friends who must be missing her lots, and might have a particularly difficult time during Christmas. Thank you for your efforts for this great cause, I admire how you are making the best out of this sad situation by trying to help others. I am already signed up and fully support organ donation.