PEOPLE came to Redditch from across the country on Saturday to say ‘thank you’ for the gift of life at a special service at St Stephen’s Church.
Called ‘Gifts Beyond Price’ the service, organised by local woman Elaine Whitfield, chimed with National Transplant Week as a poignant reminder that lives can be saved even as death looms.
It attracted more than 200 people as well as leading dignitaries including the High Sheriff of Worcestershire, Stephen Betts, local MP Rachel Maclean, transplant surgeon Majid Mukadam MBE and the Leader of Redditch Borough Council Councillor Bill Hartnett.
“There was a lady there who had a heart transplant 20 years ago and she told me this was the first opportunity she’d had to say thank you – and at that point I thought ‘we’ve succeeded’,” said Elaine.
Elaine’s own father was a heart transplant recipient, an act of kindness from the donor’s family which gave him 25 precious more years of life.
“One woman, Wendy Kane, had come from Essex. Her son died in a freak accident, but she donated his organs,” said Elaine.
“Another, Natasha Rogers, had received a heart and lung transplant.
“There was one large candle and eight smaller ones to represent the lives one donor can save.
“Wendy took a light from the large candle, gave it to Natasha who then lit the eight candles. Wendy then snuffed out the larger candle to represent the death of the donor.”
Also present was international opera singer Gemma Turner who interrupted her tour to attend the event and to sing ‘The Best Years of Our Lives’.
“It was a really wonderful and poignant event,” said Elaine.
To register for an organ donor card, call 0300 123 23 23. The line is open 24 hours, seven days a week.
