About me

In loving memory of my son Daniel Thomas Boyde 15th
March 1991 to 22nd January 2007

At the age of 39 my worst nightmare came true and I lost the youngest of my three children Daniel in a car crash, a freak accident and my whole world changed forever.

A normal Sunday evening for us, a roast dinner with Daniel who was 15, his brother and his girlfriend. They left us to go the 10 minute drive into Ramsey, I was laughing with Daniel at something he said as he walked out the door. Four minutes later and my phone rang “Mum I have crashed the car and Daniel is unconscious” I raced to the scene. The next 36 hours his Dad and I lived every parent’s worst nightmare.

Daniel was taken first to Nobles then flown by air ambulance to Pendlebury Children’s Hospital in Manchester in the early hours. His Dad and I were on the first flight that morning. The doctors showed us his scans, explained everything they were doing to try and save him. I remember looking at the mug of tea someone had given me thinking I don’t need to listen as he will wake up later and he will be just fine, we weren’t going to lose our son it was just unthinkable. I watched the doctors try everything to save him, his body was cooled down, I wanted to cover him up, I’m his Mum my son was cold, they warmed him up and then his mouth was dry, they gave me mouth swabs to moisten his mouth. At around 5pm I remember a doctor kneeling down in front of me and kindly asking did I understand how ill he was, he told me then if Daniels heart stopped they would not try to resuscitate him his head injury was catastrophic they couldn’t do anymore.

We were asked about donating Daniels organs, had we ever thought about it or discussed it with him. We hadn’t but agreed straight away, Daniel was such a kind and caring boy and we know without any doubt he would want to help others. His gift saved 4 lives and our wonderful, kind, funny, caring son now lives on in others.

Only through the tragic loss of Daniel have I been able to hear about the success of organ donation.  Having read letters from the people who received Daniel’s organs their lives before transplant revolved around hospital visits and medication.  I can’t imagine how it was for them or their families.

This website is to share real life stories on organ donation and transplant and information. Also if you have questions please ask, I will do my best to get answers from the  professionals and come back to you as quickly as possible.
 

In 2013 I joined the Organ Donation committee at Nobles Hospital in the Isle of Man. We as a committee are raising awareness of this very sensitive subject on the Island. We would like everyone to talk to their loved ones and discuss this very sensitive subject.

In 2015 we raised enough money to create a memorial garden at Nobles Hospital in the Isle of Man, a place where the loved ones of those who have given life to others through donation can have a stone with their loved ones name and age engraved and placed into the garden.  The memorial garden is where the families and loved ones of donors can remember and recognise the incredible gift that has been given to others.

In 2019 I officially became an Organ Donation ambassador for the National Health Blood and Transplant team in the U.K.

Although the page and all I do may seem to be around the memory of Daniel my reason for promoting organ donation is this. I watched as the medical team tried to save my sons life and I know that everything that could be done to save him was done. I am left with the comfort of knowing that Daniel was treated with love, care and respect from the scene of the accident to the retrieval of his organs. How would I feel if I was told Daniel needed a transplant to save his life and without an organ becoming available he would die. I have 2 other children, 5 grandchildren and of course others that I love so what if I was faced with one of them getting ill and requiring a transplant in the future.

The reality is every day in the UK (including the Isle of Man) someone dies waiting for a transplant.

The doctors question “have you ever thought about organ donation” was one we all never expect to ever be asked. They are asked to other people, you read about it don’t you but you never imagine that it will be your family being faced with that question or being told you will die if you don’t get a transplant.

Organ donation is a choice and it is your choice to make and discuss with your loved ones so they can support and honour your decision. Register it now at ww.organdonation.nhs.uk.