'My late husband's organs transformed the lives of four people'

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Reporting from North east Scotland, in Stonehaven, Arlene Hutchinson experienced an unexpected tragedy when her husband, Mark, passed away at the age of 52 after suffering two sudden strokes. The couple had never discussed organ donation, but Arlene was certain it was what Mark would have wanted. Now, she finds solace in the fact that Mark’s organs have enhanced the lives of four individuals, stating, “He lives on in four people. That can only be a good thing.”

Arlene, along with her son Jack, 12, aims to inspire others to talk about organ donation before it’s too late. Additionally, they want to increase awareness about strokes, a topic that has affected their lives deeply. Arlene, who works in marketing, reminisced about her life with Mark, whom she described as the love of her life. The couple enjoyed a healthy lifestyle, which was abruptly altered when Mark suffered the life-changing strokes last summer.

As Mark’s condition deteriorated due to brain damage from the strokes, Arlene made the difficult decision to donate his organs. Two days after the decision was made, Mark passed away, and his organs were successfully transplanted into four recipients. Arlene praised the organ donation team for their compassion and support during such a trying time. One recipient, in particular, shared with Arlene how their life had been transformed by receiving two of Mark’s kidneys.

Arlene and Jack recently unveiled an organ donor art installation at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, paying homage to organ donors and the ripple effect of their contributions. Upheld by artist Shelagh Swanson, the artwork was a collaborative effort with secondary school students across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Arlene expressed her gratitude towards the organ donation team and their dedication, acknowledging the impact their work has on countless lives

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More

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