New Tree of Life blankets will be launched on the first day of Organ Donation Awareness Week.
ICU staff nurse and clinical educator Emma Edmonds designed and arranged production of 30 beautiful blankets, that will be placed on the beds of all consented organ donors.
The hope is they will provide recognition to these incredible people throughout the Trust and acknowledge the selfless act they are preparing to embark on, to give the gift of life.
Emma explained: “I came up with the idea to produce a blanket after an experience with a donor I had. She was a young donor and when she was being taken to theatre for the retrieval, the environment was noisy, everything continued as normal such as ward rounds and X-rays. It probably looked like she was going to scan or a procedure. I just felt that we needed something to identify these amazing inspirational individuals so that they can be given the respect they deserve.”
While Emma had the idea, Lloyd Humphreys, husband of Julie, a Sister at the Trust, came up with the logo design, which fitted in well with the memorial tree at Royal Preston Hospital.
Emma then created a bright colour scheme for the logo, to highlight and celebrate the gift donors are giving, and Carol Dryden from Sew Stunning Designs in Leyland kindly embroidered the design onto the blankets.
They will be used for the first time in critical care on Monday, along with signs incorporating the Tree of Life logo, which will be placed on donors’ beds and bed spaces to help identify them.
