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Organ donor Nikki Elliott from Derby posthumously awarded Order of St John Organ donor Nikki Elliott from Derby posthumously awarded Order of St John
(about 4 hours later)
A woman whose organs have helped to save six lives has been given a posthumous award.A woman whose organs have helped to save six lives has been given a posthumous award.
Nikki Elliott, who died in January, aged 42, was given the Order of St John Award on Wednesday.Nikki Elliott, who died in January, aged 42, was given the Order of St John Award on Wednesday.
Her ex-husband John said the fact she saved the lives was a "small comfort" to him and her two teenage sons.Her ex-husband John said the fact she saved the lives was a "small comfort" to him and her two teenage sons.
The award is presented to families of people who have saved and improved people's lives through organ donation.The award is presented to families of people who have saved and improved people's lives through organ donation.
Who received donated organs?
Mr Elliott said the family, from Littleover, Derby, had received thank-you letters from relatives of people she had saved, including one from a mother whose daughter had a heart transplant.Mr Elliott said the family, from Littleover, Derby, had received thank-you letters from relatives of people she had saved, including one from a mother whose daughter had a heart transplant.
'Huge loss'
"They're handwritten and so moving you have to read them quietly when you're on your own," he said."They're handwritten and so moving you have to read them quietly when you're on your own," he said.
"Initially you don't comprehend it, but then you see the letter from the woman whose teenage daughter was saved and you see friends with teenage daughters and that tells you why you carry a donor card."Initially you don't comprehend it, but then you see the letter from the woman whose teenage daughter was saved and you see friends with teenage daughters and that tells you why you carry a donor card.
"People say it's comfort, but it's small comfort because the loss is huge, particularly for the boys.""People say it's comfort, but it's small comfort because the loss is huge, particularly for the boys."
'Inspirational bravery'
He said he ex-wife had carried a donor card in her handbag.He said he ex-wife had carried a donor card in her handbag.
It was down to her eldest son, Matthew, then 18, to make the decision to donate her organs "within minutes" of being told of her death, Mr Elliott said.It was down to her eldest son, Matthew, then 18, to make the decision to donate her organs "within minutes" of being told of her death, Mr Elliott said.
"Without a donor card, if you don't know what the wishes are it just makes it so much more difficult," he said."Without a donor card, if you don't know what the wishes are it just makes it so much more difficult," he said.
Mrs Elliott's younger son Thomas, 14, accepted the award on his mother's behalf at a ceremony in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, alongside other families whose loved ones had saved lives through donation.Mrs Elliott's younger son Thomas, 14, accepted the award on his mother's behalf at a ceremony in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, alongside other families whose loved ones had saved lives through donation.
Sally Johnson, director of organ donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "We hope their bravery will inspire others to talk about their own wishes with people close to them and record their intention to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register."Sally Johnson, director of organ donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "We hope their bravery will inspire others to talk about their own wishes with people close to them and record their intention to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register."