Boy, 8, saves lives after mum's organs decision

An eight-year-old boy has saved four lives after his mum made a decision in the darkest moment of her life, she says.

Gemma Kempthorne, 34, from Wadebridge, Cornwall, lost her son Theo suddenly in 2024 after a medical device malfunctioned.

Kempthorne said she "instantly" asked about organ donation and chose it - a decision that meant Theo went on to help four other families.

Theo's kidneys, liver and pancreas went to three adults in their 30s, one of them a father. His heart saved another child.

Theo was born with hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid on the brain, and had surgery at birth to fit a shunt to drain it.

After years with no problems, the shunt suddenly failed, causing brain damage.

After he reached Bristol Children's Hospital, "neurosurgeons told me that he had an unsurvivable condition", said his mother.

"I kind of knew. I had that intuition that he was gone.

"I instantly just asked about organ donation. I think they were a bit taken by surprise, but I told them I'd already had that conversation with myself when I was pregnant with him about what I would do.

"Fortunately, Theo was born healthier than expected, and I didn't have to think about it for eight years at all.

"It wasn't until that day that I had to think about it again."

She added: "If an organ could have been donated to save Theo, then I wouldn't have even thought about it, I would have said yes. But, because it was his brain, that was never going to be an option."

Theo loved school, playing in water and sand, and giving cuddles, Kempthorne said.

She added that she was urging adults to sign the organ donor register regularly so their families would know exactly what they wanted when time was short.

Kempthorne said: "People don't want to think about it, until it happen and unless you've thought about it beforehand, it's just easier to say no."

Anthony Clarkson, of NHS Blood and Transplant, said the decision meant that, although Theo could not be saved, four other lives were - including another child's.

"At the most difficult time, Gemma knew that she wanted Theo to be able to help others.

"We are most grateful to Gemma for sharing her and Theo's story."

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