Kettering couple meet the boy who was given the gift of life by their daughter

A Kettering couple whose teenage daughter died four years ago have had an emotional meeting with the boy who was saved because her organs were donated.

Miriam Lee, a Brooke Weston Academy pupil and member of the Air Cadets, died suddenly from an unexplained cardiac arrest aged just 17 in August 2016.

She had previously told her parents Nicola and David she believed in organ donation and as a result her liver, kidneys and pancreas were used to save or enhance the lives of four people.

One of those was four-year-old Ollie Jolliff, who was just 11-months-old when he had a liver transplant shortly after Miriam's death. He was very ill after developing a genetic condition which had already taken the life of his brother.

But the transplant was successful and now Nicola and David have travelled to Poole in Dorset to meet him after he was given the gift of life thanks to Miriam's donation.

Nicola, 56, told the Northants Telegraph: "It was emotional. We had been communicating and had seen pictures of Ollie but David and I did not quite now how we would feel when we met.

"It's not something you can ever prepare for and it was both exciting and nerve-wracking.

"We were meeting strangers - but we felt this connection through Miriam."

The family met Ollie on March 14, just before the Covid-19 lockdown, and are sharing their story to mark Organ Donation Week which starts today (Monday) and runs until September 13.

Ollie knows he has a 'special liver' and is being told about it as he grows up.

He has recently been shielding because of the Covid-19 pandemic and is now starting school - something he probably wouldn't have been able to do without the donation.

He is not the the only person to benefit from the donation of organs, bones and soft tissue by Miriam, who was described by her mum as a "friendly and intelligent" girl.

The Lees have also been in touch with two women who had life-changing transplants, one of a kidney and the other of a kidney and pancreas.

One has told them she had come off dialysis, had been able to go on holiday and got married in December.

Another woman also received the rest of Miriam's liver and two people have had some sight restored - all because Miriam told her parents she believed in organ donation.

Nicola, who works at Morrisons in Lower Street, said: "She told us that that was what she wanted. Not many 17-year-olds would have thought of that and had that conversation.

"It's just such a positive side to come out of Miriam's death and it's really heartening to see the progress of these people four years on.

"If you looked at Ollie you wouldn't know anything was wrong. He's just a normal four-year-old running everywhere."

England moved to an opt-out system for organ donation with the introduction of Max and Keira’s law on May 20 this year - although families are still involved and must consent before donation goes ahead.

Nicola is now a member of Kettering General Hospital’s Organ and Tissue Donation Committee and is working with the committee to campaign for greater awareness of the importance of donation.

She added: “Miriam’s attitude was that if you would be prepared to accept an organ, you should be prepared to donate.

“We are immensely proud that she had that conversation with us so we did not have a decision to make.

Kettering General Hospital’s Organ and Tissue Donation Committee chair, Shirley Newman, said: “Organ donation is the only hope for many desperately ill people.

“When someone dies it is always a great loss to those who are left behind but organ donation really does mean that you can pass on the gift of life.

“It is well known that many families feel a sense of pride and comfort from their decision to let their relative’s final act be to save and transform other people’s lives.

“As a committee we are campaigning to encourage people to understand the new law but also - very importantly - to have the conversation with their relatives so that their wishes are known.

“Even with the new law families must still consent to donation so it makes things much easier if your wishes are known.”

During national Organ Donation Week (7th -13th September 2020) KGH has erected a banner near one of its Rothwell Road entrances, one by the maternity theatre block and has lift wrap banners in its lifts. It is also holding a virtual challenge encouraging staff to walk around the hospital’s grounds as part of an awareness raising national initiative.

To find out more about organ and tissue donation visit the NHS Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk and share your decision with your family.

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