A MOTHER who nearly died following a rare pregnancy complication is urging Islanders to have conversations with their families about organ donation after a liver transplant saved her life.
As part of Organ Donation Week, St Lawrence resident Louise Double is sharing her story to encourage people to register their wishes and speak openly with loved ones.
To mark the awareness campaign, Fort Regent and Elizabeth Castle will be illuminated in pink – the colour of an organ donor card – in memory of the 400 people who died across the British Isles last year while waiting for a transplant.
Ms Double, a 38-year-old dentist, was diagnosed with HELLP syndrome, a rare life-threatening complication during childbirth, in June 2018.
“I was airlifted to the UK and placed on the super urgent transplant list after they determined my liver was completely destroyed and transplantation was my only chance of survival,” she said.
Ms Double added: “For most people, a transplant is life-changing in a positive way straight away. Many people live in pain and can be disabled by their organ failure for many years prior to their surgery, waiting on lists for the phone call. Some people die on that list, never getting the chance due to a shortage.
“My experience was a little different. It was a sudden and very desperate need to save my life. I was healthy before and during my pregnancy, and I had a big life adjustment after my transplant. Physically and mentally, I had a lot to overcome, and it took many years.”
The 38-year-old said that her transplant gave her a “clarity” she never had before.
“It gave me a clear purpose in life, made me value it more, and has made me prioritise my family time,” she said. “I wish to share as many adventures with them as I can. Life is fragile.”
Ms Double has also written to the family of her donor. “It was very hard to write that letter, and it took me over two years to find the right words,” she said.
“They lost a family member and made the difficult decision to donate their organs, so it is a very sensitive matter.
“I did send the family a letter letting them know the impact their son had on my family. Their reply is displayed in my house as a reminder of what their son did for me. Going on and living a full and grateful life, I feel, is the best way I can honour the family.”
There are currently more than 8,000 people waiting for a transplant in the British Isles – the highest figure recorded.
Jersey’s “opt out” law, introduced in July 2019, means that all adults are considered to have agreed to be organ donors when they die unless they have registered otherwise.
However, families are always consulted, which is why the campaign is stressing the importance of talking to family members.
Sam North, a senior nurse for Health and Care Jersey, said: “Organ donation week 2025 aims to highlight the ongoing importance of organ donors and the awe-inspiring impact a transplant can have on someone’s life.
“During Organ Donation Week, please take the opportunity to discuss what you would like if you were ever in the situation where donation is a possibility.
“Having meaningful conversations with family about your choices is important as it makes the decision-making as simple as it can be, if, and when, the time comes.”
