Organ donor Steven fulfils his wish to help others
STEVEN’S family say they are proud that he was able to fulfil his wish to donate his organs to help others.
His older sister Sharon said: “We are really proud he was able to be an organ donor. We know for a fact that he has helped four people with his donations so far.”
Steven was an active advocate of organ donation and inspired his family to sign up themselves.
Sharon added: “He was asking family and friends to sign up to become donors - it was something he’d heard about and was very passionate about. Years ago he inspired me and my mum to both sign up.”
Sharon revealed that the time difference between the UK and New Zealand made it even more difficult to deal with Steven’s death.
She said: “I got a phone call late Saturday night that it had happened and he was being flown to hospital, and we got another call on Tuesday morning saying there was no hope.
“It was so difficult because they are 12 hours in front. Then there was a call to say that the doctors were doing a final test to find out whether his brain was still functioning, and then he died at 11.44pm.
“There was nothing we could do - it was so very sudden. But the fact that he was able to carry out his wishes and donate his organs is bringing comfort.”
A celebration of Steven’s life was held for UK friends and family in the Rose and Bowl in Stacksteads on November 4. He leaves his wife Christine, son Sam, parents Margaret and Melvyn and sister Sharon.