The mother of a 30-year-old man whose organs and tissues were donated after his death has opened a new memorial rose garden at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
The purpose of the Rose Garden of Remembrance is to pay tribute to the many people who have become organ and tissue donors in the Huddersfield and Halifax region, and whose gift has gone on to save many lives throughout the UK.
Ann Fergusson’s son, Chris, died from a head injury in January in the intensive care unit at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. His family later learned his lungs were donated to a 16-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis who needed a transplant.
The opening of the rose garden was extra poignant for the family as it was six months to the day since Chris died. His grandmother, brothers, aunt and nephew were among the family members who attended.
Ann said: “It will mean so much for our family to be able to come here to remember Chris, and for all other families who have lost loved ones who have donated and saved the lives of others. I hope people read this and sign the register and tell their families they want to be donors. For us, knowing Chris was able to help so many to live has been a great comfort.”
Dr Peter Hall, the clinical lead for organ donation at the trust, said: “Chris sadly died and went on to give the gift of life to several others including a 16-year-old girl and two teenage boys. This garden is to remember all those who have given the gift of life and to thank the families of the donors and also to remember our former trust chairman, Dev Sharma, who chaired the trust’s organ donation committee and who died suddenly last year.”
A similar rose garden was planted at Calderdale Royal Hospital last month and the trust also hopes to commission memorials inside both hospitals in the forthcoming year.
