Mother’s Day is especially poignant for one Fife family because they lost their much-loved mum on that special day.
One year on from Frances Wyllie’s sudden death her daughter Nikki Bissett has spoken of the pride she feels that her mum has given the gift of life to three others.
When the family were approached about organ donation Nikki, from Glenrothes, and her dad agreed, knowing it was what Frances would have wanted
Backing the organ donation campaign, Nikki hopes speaking about her family’s experience will encourage others to discuss their wishes.
Recounting the 24 hours that changed her life, Nikki, 39, said she had spoken to Frances, 63, at 5.30pm as she was getting ready for a night out.
Less than two hours later came the news that Frances had suffered a brain haemorrhage. Nikki watched as paramedics worked on her mum before transferring her to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.
The next morning, when the family were told no more could be done, they were approached about organ donation.
“After agreeing I remembered a conversation I’d had with mum when I was a teenager,” Nikki said. “She’d said if anything happened to her they could take what they liked, except her eyes so she could see where she was going, which was just the type of thing she would say.”
Nikki praised the specialist organ donation nurse and said: We went in to see mum that night in intensive care and she looked so much more peaceful. It was so hard to believe she’d gone.”
The next day the family gathered to say their final goodbyes and the specialist nurse arranged for handprints and locks of hair to be taken for the family to keep.
Later they learned three men had received Frances’ kidneys and her liver.
“When we got the letter from one of the recipients I was as proud as punch.”
Nikki had been planning her wedding and found out the week before her mum died she had paid off her wedding gown.
“That was mum she’d have done anything for anyone,” she said.
To find out more about organ donation visit www.organdonationscotland.org.