Our truly special friendship: Lily thought she'd never get over the death of her son. Then she received a deeply moving letter from the woman whose life his organs saved

Daily Mail, UK | Alistair Duncan

On a blustery day, Lily Turley and Cara Hearst are sipping tea together in a cafe. Lily is still grieving after the death of her 13-year-old son; 20-year-old Cara is three years on from a life-saving organ transplant. Between them is a powerful bond.


It was Lily’s son, Daryl, who posthumously gave his liver to Cara, and the relationship between the women is truly exceptional.

In the year from April 2010 to March 2011, 3,740 organ transplants took place in Britain, but the vast majority of recipients have never met their donor’s families.

There are strict NHS rules concerning such contact. There must be consent on both sides before any meeting can take place, and, perhaps surprisingly, this rarely happens.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2084967/Our-truly-special-friendship-Lily-thought-shed-death-son-Then-received-deeply-moving-letter-woman-life-organs-saved.html#ixzz1jCcL2ADX