WATCH: Palliative Care Support Worker Nicky talks about her mum's cornea donation
“Mum would have loved other people to be given the gift of sight”
Nicky, a member of our Inpatient Unit care staff team, has featured in a nationwide NHS campaign promoting cornea donations.
Nicky’s mum, Pauline, gave permission for her corneas to be donated after her death, and her eldest daughter says it was a rewarding experience.
“Overall, the process has been really positive,” said Nicky, a Palliative Care Support Worker, in a video filmed by the NHS at St Michael’s.
“We just feel so good that Mum’s memory can live on now. My Mum and Dad were very generous people, and I know my Mum would have loved other people to be given the gift of sight, so they could see their families, their children, their grandchildren.”
Lorna Banham, Advanced Clinical Practitioner at St Michael’s, also featured in the video, and explained that few patients realise organ donations are a possibility.
“Having these conversations with patients can be quite a surprise to them. To donate tissue or eye is something they never thought they could do.
“Often, after our chats, you can see patients have an element of hope and light. To know they’ve been able to leave that legacy through the sight of someone else is amazing for them.”