North West organ donors honoured for saving lives

People from the North West who have saved lives through the gift of organ donation have been posthumously honoured at a moving award ceremony, including Oliver Wright, from Cheshire who worked for a Manchester company and Martin Harriman, from Greater Manchester, who was a Dad of four.

Oliver, Martin and other organ donors received the Order of St John Award for Organ Donation, run in conjunction with NHS Blood and Transplant for a decade, which was given to their families and loved ones on their behalf at a private award ceremony in Manchester in May 2023.

Oliver was the eldest of four – one brother and two sisters, had passed his Class 1 HGV at an early age and was working for a Manchester based haulage firm driving all over the UK, CSM (North West Limited). Sadly Oliver, aged 23, from Lymm, died in December 2022. He had signed up for organ donation and was able to donate to four people, giving his kidneys, pancreas and liver. Oliver also donated heart tissue.

His Dad Simon says: “Oliver’s big passion in life was cars – driving and big trucks!Oliver was a beautiful, fun loving young man – the best friend you could wish for always, willing to help others even if things were not going well for himself.  Oliver was the character that got everybody going at a party and was a larger-than-life personality in a room.

“Oliver passed his driving test as soon as he possibly could – going on to pass his Class 2 HGV and then as soon as he could he went in for his Class 1 HGV – all of which he passed first time. Everyone remarked on such a young man driving these huge articulated trucks wherever he went.

“Oliver was the first of his three siblings to join the local primary school – always ready to support and make friends with anyone that wasn’t too confident or needed a friend to help them. This kind and caring nature would stay with him throughout his life – looking after his brother and sisters but also friends whenever anybody needed help, Oliver was always offering to help wherever he could.

“Oliver also went out of his way to give time and spoke to neighbours young and old whenever he saw them. Oliver was always willing to give his time up for others and it came as no surprise that Oliver had chosen to help others if anything was to ever happen to himself.

“Oliver’s death came suddenly in the hospital and as a family we were asked about organ donation. In the moment when the news of losing a loved one is at its most raw and painful – the very thought of thinking about anything else is extremely difficult to absorb and even more difficult to consider anything other than the most awful news that has just been given.

“The organ donation team are extremely well versed in handling this point in time and use a very patient and considerate method, however they are tasked with delivering the question and finding out if it is a possibility in a very restricted time frame.

“We as a family discussed the possibility of organ donation for Oliver and we arrived at the decision to say yes – we were then told that Oliver himself had previously given consent to organ donation. He had signed the register when he got his driving licence, off his own back and we didn’t know. We found it massively comforting to know that both us and Oliver believed in the same value of organ donation and we knew we were doing the right thing.

“Organ donation is a decision that you hope to never have to make but it’s a decision that can change lives – it was also to prove something that we as a family have found huge comfort in and has given us a legacy to hold onto which we would not have had without the organ donation.

“When we were contacted to inform us of the Order of St Johns awards we were 100% sure that we wanted to attend in Oliver’s name. The occasion is very poignant especially when you see other families who have lost someone – but the pride and love in the room from all those people is very moving.

“We are immensely proud of Oliver and the gift that he has been able to give others means we know somewhere a little part of him continues.

“For us the loss of Oliver has left us with a permanent hole in our lives where he used to be – the thought that out in the world other families have perhaps been saved that same loss gives us a great deal of comfort.”

Oliver’s mum is Jill and his siblings are Henry, Scarlett and Harriett.

Martin Harriman was a wonderful husband and doting dad of four, who started his career as a casual lifeguard within the leisure industry before working his way up to operations director at Stockport leisure firm, Life Leisure/Stockport Active CIC. Sadly Martin, aged 60, had a stroke at work and after initially hopes he could recover, he deteriorated and could not be saved, dying in May 2019. Martin, who lived in Stockport, donated his organs.

Michelle, who had been with Martin for 28 years and married to him for 23 years, said: “He was the absolute love of my life, we knew from day one that what we had was something special.

“Martin was unique, he was my best friend and my soulmate. He was so caring and loving, he was funny and he was an amazing dad.

“Martin died very suddenly and it was devastating. I have been slowly piecing my life back together over the last four years.

“This has taught me that life is short, when I walked out the door to work that day, I didn’t know the next time I would see him he’d be coming out of the back of an ambulance.”

Martin was at work when he collapsed one afternoon. Michelle, who worked at the same company, was at college that day when she got a phone call to say Martin had had a suspected stroke.

She met him at the hospital where the stroke was confirmed but doctors were hopeful he would recover. A few days later, Michelle got a call as she was arriving to see Martin as he’d started fitting during physio treatment. He was put in an induced coma and sadly could not be saved.

The couple had two children together, Morgan, 25, and Skye, 23, and Martin had two children from a previous relationship, Laura, 37 and Stuart, 34.

Michelle said: “We were told Martin was on the Organ Donor Register, which came as a bit of a shock. I’d joined in the 90s and had a card in my wallet which Martin found and asked me about. We talked and I explained I was on the register. I had talked about what I’d give and he’d said he doesn’t matter when you’re dead.

“He didn’t say he’d gone and done it but he must have done after that conversation. It turns out he joined at the GP, which is what I had told him I did. He didn’t tell me he joined and it was really hard to give consent but it was his wish.

“We went ahead with Martin’s wishes to donate when it would have been easy to say no. It was such a hard time in that moment but if that’s what he wanted, we wanted to donate.

“The organ donation nurses were so supportive, caring and patient. They were lovely and always there for us, all the way through to the very end. They made the decision that little bit easier and I’ll always remember them for their compassion at a devastating time.

“For me knowing part of Martin is still around, it gives me great comfort. Organ donation is lifesaving and Martin has helped save somebody.”

Martin donated his kidneys and his liver.”

Michelle added: “The Order of St John awards was a lovely ceremony, I am glad I waited until after covid to go in person. It was emotional and it was an honour and a privilege to collect Martin’s award.

“He would have hated it, he didn’t like any fuss about himself. Martin should be recognised for what he has done, it’s about never forgetting and recognising who he was and what he did.

“He truly was the most amazing man. I was so lucky to have him, he made me feel really special and loved. He was my world and he still is.”

Michelle has now moved abroad to start a new chapter. As well as four children, Martin’s first grandchild is due on his birthday in November.

Hundreds of families are receiving the Order of St John award for organ donation across the UK this year, at regional ceremonies or privately, as the awards celebrate their tenth year. More than 1,400 people donated their organs after their death in 2022, leading to more than 3,500 lifesaving transplants*.

Mick Messinger, Chancellor of the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order of St John, said: “It is a pleasure and privilege to work with NHS Blood and Transplant again on a tenth year of ceremonies to mark the wonderful gifts of life given by people who chose to donate organs and their families who supported them in this decision. These events are always very emotional and I pay tribute to all the families that attend and, most of all, to their loved ones who have selflessly helped others to live after their own passing.”

Organ donation is a most precious gift and it is important that people confirm their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register to save lives when they die. Only around 1% of people in the UK die in the circumstances to become an organ donor each year.

Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Organ donors and their families are truly inspirational people. Every donor transforms the lives of people they don’t know and the pride their families rightly feel is incredibly powerful.

“Patients who have received a transplant tell us that organ donors and their families are their heroes. The Order of St John awards, which we are proud to have been running with the Order of St John for ten years, are a chance for us all to recognise organ donors and their amazing contribution to society.

“We hope these awards will inspire other people in Greater Manchester and Cheshire to decide they want to donate their organs and confirm their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. Saving the lives of others is an amazing legacy to leave and donor families say donation is a source of pride that helps them in their grief.

“We want to ensure as many people as possible have the opportunity to donate their organs and save lives. Please confirm your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk.”

The Order of St John Award for Organ Donation features the organ donation heart logo backed by the Maltese Cross – which is used by the Order of St John – above the words ‘add life, give hope’. The award can be received at a regional ceremony or sent to a family privately. They are open to people of all faiths or of no faith.

The Order of St John Award for Organ Donation first started being given to organ donors and received by their families and loved ones in 2013 and the tenth anniversary of the awards will be celebrated in September.

For more information about organ donation, or to register your organ donation decision, please visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23. NHS app users can also use the service to record, check or update their organ donation decision.