Anstruther woman whose husband died aged 51 honours his wish and donates his tissue to help others

A woman who honoured her husband’s wish to become a tissue donor has urged others to have life-changing conversations with loved ones.

Elaine Laing, from Anstruther, said a discussion with husband Stephen years before his sudden death at the age of 51 had helped ease the decision.

Stephen donated his heart valves and corneas to help save and improve the lives of others, something that continues to bring comfort to Elaine, 49, and sons Keir and Irvine a year on from their loss.

People are being encouraged to make their organ donation decision known during Organ Donation Week, which started on Monday.

Everyone has a choice to either register to be a donor or to opt out of donation but Elaine said it was vital to make that choice known.

Stephen died suddenly at home, eight days after cardiac surgery.

The couple, who were married for 24 years, had discussed organ donation years earlier, joined the NHS organ donor register and had even asked their sons what they would want to happen.

Elaine, a pupil support assistant, said: “Stephen wanted to be an organ donor but because he had a heart attack at home, that wasn’t possible.

“In the hospital quite quickly after we lost him, we were approached by a specialist nurse to discuss the possibility of him being a tissue donor, as he was on the organ donor register.

“I immediately said they could take what they needed, with no hesitation.

“I just asked if I could speak to my boys and they agreed wholeheartedly.”

Elaine said she was devastated by Stephen’s death, describing her husband as her guiding light, but that being able to fulfil his wish had been a comfort.

“We knew it was what he would have wanted and the hospital handled everything so sensitively and with such empathy that it didn’t feel intrusive.

“I was upset he wasn’t able to donate his organs but the fact a heart valve could give life to someone, even a child, helped me make peace with that.

“I remember my son saying how lovely it was that his dad would be able to see the world through someone else’s eyes.”

“Having that conversation is so important. I know for a fact that it made honouring Stephen’s decision easier. It has also brought a huge amount of comfort as we try to face life without him.”

To find out more about organ donation choices, log on to organdonationscotland.org