Mum proud son's donated organs saved lives

A mother who donated her son's organs when he died aged seven has said she is "so proud of him for saving lives".

In May 2021, Debbie Carr from Basingstoke, made the difficult decision to donate Frankie's organs and is asking other parents to consider doing the same.

Frankie was born with a rare genetic brain disorder which meant he was non-verbal and "had the mental age of a baby," Ms Carr said.

According to the NHS, consent for organ donation across the UK has fallen by 61%, while more than 7,600 people are waiting for life-saving transplants.

"We were told he could live for five to 10 years," Ms Carr said.

"It took me a long time to get my head around it."

She said the family decided "to give him the best life we could".

They were able to take Frankie on holidays and he attended the Saxon Wood school in Basingstoke, which Ms Carr said was a source of great pride.

Remembering her boy she said: "I loved him so much.

"Anyone who met him fell in love with him; he had an aura about him."

During his short life, Frankie was hospitalised about 35 times.

His condition caused him to suffer from seizures and dystonia, which are muscle spasms caused by confusion with the brain’s signal.

In 2021, he was taken to Basingstoke Hospital with a twisted bowel and operated on, after which he was put on a ventilator as medics sought to manage his condition.

Ms Carr said they "could tell he was very uncomfortable" and the family made the decision switch off Frankie's ventilator.

She said: "I remember having my hand on his heart and listening to it slow down and hugging him and kissing him."

The family had decided to donate Frankie's organs after his death.

Ms Carr said it was incredibly challenging to make the decision and her family was fortunate to have time to process it.

"It's something a parent should never have to go through," she said.

Reflecting on the decision Ms Carr said: "I can't explain it, it just felt right."

She said the family was happy to know that their "Frankiepants" could "live on through someone else" and help others who were struggling.

"Through this awful ordeal we're crying but we're happy," she said.

Two weeks after his death and the donation team found a match for his kidney.

Ms Carr said she is proud that her son's "tiny kidney was able to help a grown man."

She said she would love to meet the recipients of Frankie's organs but understands that this might not happen.

Three years on from her son's death, Debbie wanted to urge other people to consider organ donation.

She said: "It is a great comfort; knowing you are helping others live a healthy life is amazing.

"We couldn’t save our boy, but we could save others and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

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