A landmark ceramic public artwork, created by artists in partnership with donor recipients and families of people who donated their organs to save others, has been unveiled by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust at their Oxford Road Campus in Manchester.
Curated and led by Lime Arts, the moving artwork reflects the impact of organ donation on both donor and recipient.
Groups of families whose loved ones sadly died, but saved so many others by becoming donors came together, along with people whose lives were saved by donors, and worked together over a four year period to create the unique artwork, with poet John McAuliffe and lead artists Liam Curtin and Stephen Raw.
After her son died from a sudden catastrophic illness, Judy Coutinho and her family made the decision to honour his wish to be an organ donor. He had previously signed the NHS Organ Donor Register and his donation went on to save or improve the lives of others:
“Being part of the Organ Donor Recognition Artwork Project has given me the chance to truly honour my son’s legacy as an organ donor. It has been incredibly special to work with Lime Arts and the artists, healthcare professionals and other donor families who have jointly created a unique tribute.
“We have laughed, cried and had fun together but have never lost sight of its purpose in recognising the precious life-saving gift that organ donation gives to others.
“I tragically lost my eldest son Alex when he was 27 years old. I still remember having to break into the apartment where he was staying as he had collapsed and was not breathing. Alex had suffered from a sudden massive brain haemorrhage around the brain stem. My handsome, charismatic son would never be able to breathe again and there was no hope. I remember telling the A&E consultant at Manchester Royal Infirmary that I knew what this all meant and that Alex would want to be an organ donor.
“Alex was officially declared dead the following afternoon at 2.24pm, but my son’s death saved six lives. A young cancer survivor received his lungs, a little boy part of his liver, a lady in her 50’s the other part of his liver, a young man aged 30 received one kidney after waiting two years and a young lady in her 20’s received the other kidney. The luckiest of all was the 18-year-old girl who received his heart!
“Being involved with Lime Arts after all this has been so therapeutic, it’s given us a platform to share ideas and be able to articulate difficult and emotional experiences. I have found support and friendship which was lacking from anywhere else.
“Sudden death is especially traumatic as you have no time to prepare yourself and being able to take part in the creative side of the project is very cathartic and soothing. This project has helped me to heal and process my grief in a positive way, our finished product makes me feel like we have added something to my son’s impressive legacy.”
The ceramic mural features ‘The Call’, a unique poem written by John McAuliffe who worked closely with donor families and recipients to capture their experiences of going through life changing surgery.
Fixed to the Patrick Cryne building, where the very first kidney transplant at Manchester Royal Infirmary was carried out in 1958, the project was made possible through charitable donations from NHS Blood and Transplant and the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity.
Dawn Prescot, Director at the award winning Lime Arts who facilitated the creation of the piece and the associated workshops the groups could attend, said of the work:
‘This project is an outstanding example of what can be achieved when highly skilled artists and people with lived experience of grief and trauma collaborate to produce art.
“It has been a privilege and great honour to work so closely with the organ donor families throughout this project and share their touching and very personal stories.”
Artist Liam Curtin added “The project has been a four-year emotional journey, which included practical workshops and many discussions with families of donors. In over 50 years of making art, I cannot remember a more engaging project. I truly love all the participants and John’s poem magically captures the essence of this extraordinary human experience.”