Donor family's organ plea

[okarol]

Donor family's organ plea

Paul Anderson
Article from: Herald-Sun

April 27, 2007 12:00am

THE mother of a young girl who helped seven people by donating organs after she died has urged all Victorians to consider organ donation.
Emma Connell, daughter of murdered socialite Margaret Wales-King, lost her daughter Lily Lucia Connell, 9, in February, 2005, to a fatal asthma attack.

While the death of Lily shattered the entire Wales family, Mrs Connell said she and husband James were grateful they made the decision to donate some of Lily's organs -- thanks to the experience of Mr Connell's sister Trish, who was an organ recipient.

The decision to donate Lily's organs saved several lives. Mrs Connell is now a staunch supporter of the organ donation program.

"After a night in Geelong Hospital with our youngest daughter Lily on life support with constant testing throughout the night for brain function, a very tired and sympathetic young doctor announced that our little girl was not going to survive," Mrs Connell said.

"It was then that my husband James and I were asked about whether we had ever considered organ donation. We had thought about it, as James' sister, Trish Wilson, had in fact been a donor recipient.

"It was in dialysis units, and trips to visit yet another very special little friend of ours who spent the best part of 2005 and 2006 in the Royal Children's Hospital, that I realise how important it is for organ donation to have a voice."

Mrs Connell said Australian doctors were world leaders in transplant operations.

"(Despite) boasting one of the highest success rates in organ and tissue transplants worldwide, we are still one of the lowest donor registers," she said.

"Having been confronted with these issues over the past couple of years, I encourage everyone in the community to discuss organ donation with all family members young or otherwise.

"My husband James, our children and family members and friends have all been at both ends of the spectrum.

"We have lost Lily and been touched by letters from recipients -- people living today because of Lily.

"We were blessed to have had Trish with us a lot longer than we expected and we thank God she was there to support us and make us realise that the decision we made for our daughter Lily, at the time of her death, was the right one."

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21627423-2862,00.html?from=public_rss


PHOTO: Lily Connell, 9 years old

[Sluff]

Wonderful story.  Too bad a nine year old had to give her life for this too happen.

[goofynina]

She has the face of an angel    God bless her family as they grieve for their loss and God bless those who were fortunate to receive such wonderful gifts. 

[charee]

That is a great story but also very sad. Australia has one of the lowest donation rates in the world, last year only 202 people donated their organs Australia wide.

[Wattle]

What isn't mentioned in the article is that the murder was committed by her brother. Her brother and sister inlaw murdered their mother and step father. Money being the motive.