The Observer view on the valuable worth of organ donation | Observer editorial

More than 100 children’s lives could have been saved if more couples shared the courage of Jess Evans and Mike Houlston, the parents of Britain’s youngest donor

Jess Evans and Mike Houlston made a courageous decision when they were told 12 weeks into Jess’s pregnancy that one of the twins she was carrying had a condition so severe he would live for only a day or two. To their great credit, Teddy, who died a year ago, became Britain’s youngest organ donor – a story movingly told on other pages. His kidneys saved an adult’s life. The family’s decision became public last week.

One donor can save nine lives. Georgia Fieldsend was three when her mother prepared her for the operating theatre – not for surgery, but to ensure that others would have the gift of life. Georgia had been on holiday in 2013 with her parents, James and Ilse, when she suffered a fatal brain aneurysm. In the five days that followed, her parents made the decision to donate their daughter’s organs. Georgia saved the lives of four children and allowed two young men in their 20s to have sight. On 10 May, the family will release Georgia’s Song, written by teenage friends of the family, to help raise awareness.

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