Beds family speak up about organ donation after their son saved three lives
A family in Bedfordshire are opening up about the importance of donating organs after their son Billy helped save three people's lives.
Last updated 5th Oct 2023
Billy was 18 years old when he died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage, in 2016.
He was fit and healthy, and his death was unexpected, leaving a grieving family behind including his older sister, who was at home with him when he suffered the aneurism.
His mother, Jane Gradwell-Smith, said: "His heart stopped beating and they kept restarting it but couldn't understand the underlying reason as to why, and it was when they had done all the scans that they realised he had an aneurism."
"The next day we were told he wasn't going to be able to recover from that."
"What we do have is some peace to know he went on to help others..."
Having filled out documents for his provisional driving license the year before with his father, Trevor Gradwell-Smith, Billy was given the option to opt in to the organ donation register, which sparked a conversation with his family.
His parents had been on the register for years, so the conversation was a little easier for them.
Mr Gradwell-Smith said: "After we had that news, it was the worst day ever, but I think the three of us had a conversation and we all realised what was coming next. I don't think you can ever be prepared for it."
When Billy died, three of his organs went on to save other people's lives, and his tissues will have helped many more.
Mrs Gradwell-Smith told Greatest Hits Radio the conversation was not theirs to have because their son had decided himself.
She said: "We got introduced to the nurse who does all the coordination and the fact that Billy was on the register."
"We realised what pressure the nurse was under as well because it's the worst day in our lives but a really difficult day for them and I suppose this conversation became easy when we were approached about organ donation", added Mr Gradwell-Smith.
Trevor and Jane Gradwell-Smith want to raise awareness of the importance of speaking to loved ones about their options if the worst was to happen.
Billy's father said: "What we do have is some peace to know he went on to help others. His liver and his kidneys, and his tissues were donated."
They also want anyone to consider donating organs, which can save other people's lives.