Stories about organ and tissue donation
How did a donor organ change a recipient's life? And what does donation mean for the donor's surviving relatives? Read the personal stories of recipients, patients on the waiting list, and surviving relatives of donors here.
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'People need to talk more about donation'
After being hit by a car, Tygo spends weeks in the hospital; his condition unfortunately does not improve. His parents Arvid and Joyce realize that further treatment is not possible, but knew that Tygo wanted to be a donor. That thought helps Joyce and Arvid accept this extremely difficult decision: stopping treatment.
From two transplants to the top of Mont Ventoux
Experiencing an organ transplant twice: that rarely happens. Arjan Haken (54) did experience it.
'My choice in the Donor Register doesn't really match my values'
Marjolein finds it a struggle: submitting her choice in the Donor Register. She actually wants to be a donor, but something is holding her back. And she finds that difficult.
'I was given a second chance, which is why I want to commit myself'
Wiebe was only 5 when he already needed a donor liver. He was saved, but after the transplant he felt different. Years later, he turned that into action.
'His death felt less meaningless because of the donation'
In 2014, Martin's father suffered a fatal brain hemorrhage. Long ago he had filled out a donor card and shortly before the brain hemorrhage he had talked about it with his wife: he wanted to be a donor if anything were to happen to him. That decision helped the family in the grieving process.
'A new cornea? Scary, but things couldn't get any worse'
Harmien (62) had pain in her right eye. The ophthalmologist suspected an inflammation. She was given eye drops, but they didn't help. Eventually it turned out there was a parasite in Harmien's eye.
'My friends went out partying, I was sitting on the couch'
After a few surgeries and a long rehabilitation, a donated meniscus turned out to be the solution for Milou's knee injury.
'Sometimes I am desperate, because maybe I won't make it'
Ambar is waiting. She lives in a no-man's-land, hoping for the solution: a new donor kidney.
‘You can't give a bigger gift to someone who is so sick’
Nienke suffered a severe brain hemorrhage. The fact that she was able to give 6 people a better life makes her death less meaningless for her mother Gerda.
