Oliver receives The Order of St John Award for Organ Donation

Today we have attended a ceremony at the St. John Priory Church in Farringdon, London where Oliver has received the order of St. John United Kingdom award for Organ Donation presented to us by Colonel Jane Davis OBE OStJ QVRM TD DL.

In September 2021, our son Oliver was admitted to intensive care at the Evelina London Children's Hospital, where he remained for six days. On what we believed to be his final day, two nurses gently approached us, sat at the end of his hospital bed wearing all black scrubs, and asked a question that left us shaken: “Have you ever considered organ donation?”

At a time when we were already overwhelmed, still trying to comprehend the trauma of what had happened to Oliver, this question felt like a heavy blow. Confused and deeply distressed, we struggled to understand why such a conversation was taking place. And then one of the nurses quietly clarified, “Not you, Mr. Steeper. Oliver.”

We looked at each other in silence, no words spoken, just a shared understanding between two parents in the deepest pain.

And then, together, we answered without hesitation: “Yes, absolutely.”

What followed was a blur of emotion. Amid our heartbreak, we signed the necessary paperwork, driven by the belief that Oliver could still bring hope to others. In our situation, the donation team then had to liaise with the police and the coroner to determine which of Oliver’s organs could be donated, pending a full Home Office post-mortem due to the nature of his injuries and the circumstances surrounding his death.

Later that evening, we were told that a recipient had been found. Oliver was able to donate his kidneys and his liver.

The following morning, a surgical team was flown in from Leeds to London to carry out the procedure. We said our goodbyes to Oliver after he had passed. I will never forget being gently warned that once he was gone, he would be taken quickly to surgery, the sooner the organs are removed, the greater the chance of success for the recipient. That urgency made everything feel even more real.

About two hours later, Oliver was brought back to the ward. We were given the opportunity to bathe him one final time and, with the help of a nurse, dress him in the clothes we had chosen. We surrounded him with love and placed his favourite teddy, Duggee, by his side. Saying our last goodbyes in that moment was one of the most heart-wrenching things we have ever done as parents, walking out of that room knowing we would never see our son again.

On October 16th, 2021, we received a letter from NHS Blood and Transplant. It informed us that a man in his sixties, who had spent years on dialysis, had received both of Oliver’s kidneys and he could now live a life free from the constraints of dialysis and the hardship of kidney failure.

That news brought a tidal wave of emotion: joy, sorrow, pride, and an overwhelming sense of comfort. Knowing that our little boy had given someone else the chance to live,it’s simply extraordinary.

While we only know a little about the recipient, just his age, we hold onto the hope that one day, through the organ donation service, he might choose to reach out. And if that day ever comes, we’d love nothing more than to wrap him in a hug that says everything words can’t.

Oliver’s liver was also used to extract hepatocytes, specialized cells that play a vital role in helping to regenerate a recipient’s own liver. These cells can be preserved for up to ten years, which is simply extraordinary. The idea that Oliver may continue to help others for years to come, potentially saving or transforming multiple lives, brings a profound sense of hope and meaning in the midst of our grief.

Finally, all we can say is, if you have the opportunity to donate organs, please do. The current waiting list is around 8000 people in the UK and the number of people who are giving their organs is sadly decreasing.

You can register your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register:

• Online: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk

• By phone: Call 0300 123 23 23

• Through your GP or when applying for a driving licence

  
  

You can choose which organs you want to donate and update your preferences at any time.