Words save lives. Join in the chat with Jane McHale.

Eckersley House is one of ten ‘Homes from Home’ run by The Sick Children’s Trust. Based at Leeds Children’s Hospital, it has 22 bedrooms which support families with sick children undergoing treatment at the specialist centre. Alongside these bedrooms, Eckersley House has a specialist self-contained flat for families to stay when a child is recovering from a liver or bone marrow transplant. The flat ensures a child can stay with their family in a low infection risk environment while they prepare to transition from hospital to home.

With almost 20 years of experience working at our ‘Home from Home’, helping thousands of families stay close to their loved ones, this week we caught up with House Manager Jane McHale to hear the difference Eckersley House makes to families whose children are waiting for a lifesaving organ. She says:

“More often than not, Eckersley House supports a number of families whose children are desperately waiting on the organ donation transplant list at Leeds Children’s Hospital. Some have been waiting weeks, but most have been waiting months before they receive a call to say that a donor organ has become available. Sadly in the 20 years I’ve been working at Eckersley House I’ve seen too many families leave us, heartbroken as their child’s time has run out. The wait was simply just too long as a result of there not being enough donors. I will never be able to come to terms with seeing a family lose their child. It’s something you can’t forget.

“But there are some families who come through the doors of Eckersley House, whose children are the lucky ones. A lifesaving organ is found for them, just in time. And the relief we see on their faces is amazing! In that moment they know that their loved one is being given the gift of life, because someone has made the brave, selfless decision for their loved one’s organs to be donated. That decision changes that recipient’s life forever - the difference a donor organ can make is literally the difference between life and death.

“At Eckersley House, we support families whose children undergo liver transplants. With a liver transplant the difference is almost immediate. In a matter of minutes the child’s eyes have whitened and their skin colour has improved. For the parents it must feel they’ve been given the best gift of all…they’ve been given their child back.

“Because of the flat at Eckersley House, I am lucky enough to see families begin to get to grips with their second start to life after a transplant. They’re filled with excitement and hope, but most of all gratitude. They’re so thankful that they can take their child home – when so many other families just haven’t been as lucky – because of someone’s generosity, kindness and thoughtfulness. The thought of the donor’s family and their selfless decision stays with them in every moment and at every milestone.

“I believe that a time is coming where more families will leave Eckersley House following a successful transplant. The proposal to change the organ donation law to an opt-out system has the potential to save over 700 lives, but it won’t be happening immediately. So, until that day comes, I would like to encourage everyone to get involved with Organ Donation Week. Let’s join in the conversation and raise awareness. Speak to friends, family… even your neighbour across the street and start talking about your wishes and your family members’! You could be helping to give a seriously ill child or a person waiting for a lifesaving donor organ a second chance of life.”

To find out more about organ donation, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk