Donor registration soars thanks to Ted Parks, United Kingdom

Nov 22 2010 by Sarah Judd, Evening Gazette

THE Evening Gazette's Become A Donor campaign today reached an amazing milestone, as it was revealed more than 10,000 people across Teesside have signed up to the national organ donor register in the last year.

Donor organisation NHS Blood and Transplant congratulated readers of the Gazette for their support, but added: “We need more people to join the organ donor register and to tell their loved ones their wishes”.

A STAGGERING 10,000 people on Teesside have signed up to the organ donor register since the Gazette kicked off the Become A Donor campaign with the inspirational story of Normanby heart swap tot Ted Parks.

Grinning cheekily as he cuddles up to his “buddy” and brother Tom, the bubbly 17-month-old is unrecognisable from the brave battler who, just one year ago, lay in Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital connected to a “Berlin” false heart device.

As he plays with toys and shares a giggle with five-year-old Tom, the thriving boy, dubbed Super Ted, is now a million miles away from the helpless tot who lay waiting for a lifesaving transplant - and unaware of the lasting legacy inspiring many of our 10,000 new donors has left on Teesside.

Speaking of the overwhelming response from Gazette readers, proud dad Stephen, 35, said: “I can’t believe it, that’s brilliant! It just shows everyone on Teesside will respond to stories and it’s one of the places where everyone looks after everyone else.

“I’m over the moon and hopefully, there will be more to follow.”

Mum Kay, 35, a Human Resources worker at Teesside University, added: “It just goes to show how much empathy people in this area have. There’s all sorts of things going on, people are losing their jobs and looking for work, but when a story like this comes out, people just think, ‘Oh my god!’ and they are really interested and supportive. Our family get asked all the time ‘How’s Ted?’”

Speaking of their ordeal last year, Ted’s parents Kay Husband and Stephen Parks described the heartbreak of knowing that for their baby boy to live, another little angel would have to die and donate his or her heart. But that gift of life is one the Normanby couple will never take for granted.

After Ted’s successful heart transplant, they are delighted their story has helped thousands of others make the difficult but important decision to give someone else that same gift after their death.

Kay said: “If Ted’s story has just made one person stop and think, ‘well what else is going to happen to my organs when I die?’ it’s a legacy that person will leave and could change someone’s life - not just for them, but for their family.

“I can’t even begin to imagine what this Christmas would be like if we hadn’t got what we got.

“It’s just an amazing thing that you can do for someone.”

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