The “incredible legacy” of the 27-year-old who after his death saved six people with his organs

This year, a 16-year-old teenager was able to celebrate her high school exam results and a little boy was able to hug his mother, thanks to Alex Newlove.

The 27-year-old died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage in Manchester, England in 2020 and as an organ donor helped save the lives of six people.

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Alex’s mother, Judy Coutinho, urges others to share their organ donation wishes with their families so more lives can be saved.

“It’s an incredible gift,” he says.

Newlove, originally from the English town of Lancashire, had moved to the United States to pursue a career in accounting and finance.

Coutinho, 59, explains that his son was living “the life he had dreamed of” in Chicago before falling ill in early 2020.

“There was no warning,” he said.

“He died of a massive brain hemorrhage while home for Christmas. For us, It all happened like lightning.”

Coutinho told the BBC that although he had not discussed organ donation with his son, he “instinctively knew” what he would want.

Judy Coutinho says that her son had been "living the life i dreamed of" In Chicago.

“I was right because apparently he signed the organ donor registry four times“, he adds.

“I just felt like he would have wanted his organs to help other people. Why not help other people? That wasn’t going to bring Alex back to us.”

“So I felt like it was the right thing to do.”

“An incredible legacy if the unthinkable happens”

In the years since then, the grieving mother has been in contact with some of the families of those he helped save.

“I’m in touch with a mother whose daughter received (an organ). I know how she’s doing, she got amazing results on her high school exams, it’s been lovely to see her in a prom dress and stuff like that.”

“It’s touching and just It reinforces that we did the right thing.”

“I also got a couple of letters from the mother of a little boy who received part of Alex’s liver. Hearing how well he’s doing is really heartwarming.”

Judy is now supporting a campaign by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) that urges people to talk to family and “leave no guesswork” about organ donation.

The campaign highlights the impact that not knowing what to do with their loved one’s organs has on families.

Judy Coutinho urges people to share their wishes about organ donation with their families.

“It’s a gift and incredible legacy if the unthinkable happens,” Coutinho says.

“I never dreamed I’d be in that position, I never dreamed that day would come. It helps to be aware of what your loved one would have wanted and I think it’s an important conversation.”

The campaign follows a change in the law in England that sees all adults as willing to donate their organs, unless they opt out or are in one of the excluded groups.

However, many people are unaware that families will continue to be contacted before any donations take place.

The NHS points out that research it has carried out shows that while 80% of people are willing to donate their organs, only 39% say they have shared their decision.

Source: Elcomercio