A woman from Barking has spoken out after her son was posthumously awarded for donating his organs.
Joseph Swain, from Charlton, collapsed in the street from a brain haemmorrhage and died in June last year, aged 39.
He was treated at Kings College Hospital, where his family agreed to donate his kidneys and pancreas.
Joe’s mum, Debra Taylor from Barking, said: “I just felt that it was something he would have wanted, he would have liked to give someone else a chance in their life.
“His organs were no longer any use to him and if he could help someone he would have wanted to.”
Joe’s family received the Order of St John Award for Organ Donation on his behalf.
Debra added: “We had a letter from one of the two gentlemen who received his kidneys.
“It was just so heart wrenching, it was lovely. I just felt like it was Joe living on.”
There were 1,574 organ donors in the UK in 2017/18, an 11 per cent rise from the previous year.
Anthony Clarkson, interim director of organ donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “The pride families feel at these ceremonies is inspirational.
“Transplant patients tell us that organ donors and their families are heroes. This award is a chance for us all to recognise their bravery and generosity and their amazing contribution to society.”
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