Samantha’s Story

Meet Samantha. She is one brave fundraiser and an advocate for Organ Donation.

Samantha is taking on our Skydive in July to raise funds for the High Dependency & Intensive Care Departments at the Royal Derby Hospital in memory of mum Norma.

“2015 was set to be our best year yet, we found out we were pregnant with our first baby, and were due to move into our first home in August.

But in April my Mum took ill. Mum had been diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis a few months previously, but I didn’t research too much into her diagnosis/prognosis.

Having been used to Mum being in and out of hospital I didn’t think too much of it this time either, but it went from bad to worse daily. Eventually Mums lungs were so weak she had to be put in a coma and on the High Dependency Unit, and later Intensive Care Unit in the Royal Derby Hospital. We were hoping the machines breathing for her would give them the strength to recover.

The doctors kept us informed of her progress, or lack of progress, daily, and eventually we found ourselves having the conversation we were all hoping wouldn’t be necessary.

As a family we all agreed that Mum wasn’t getting any better, and even if we did hang on in the hope that she did, her quality of life was seriously being reduced the longer the machines were keeping her alive.

So we had to make the heart breaking decision to turn the machines off.

Shortly after we had signed the necessary paperwork the Doctors came to us once again to tell us they had discovered Mum had been a registered organ donor. Typical Mum! We were preparing ourselves to say goodbye to her, aged 57, and she was still trying to save the lives of others. Again we all agreed to give her final wish.

The doctors told us we then had to wait whilst they found a suitable recipient, so Mum would be kept alive whilst they did so.

It didn’t take them long. At around 5am the following morning we got the phone call to say they had a recipient and the machines would be turned off shortly.

So we all went straight to the hospital to be by her side as Mum took her final breath on the 28th April 2015.

4 years later I have a 3 year old, a house, and I am married. All milestones you hope to go through with your Mum by your side. But as everyone says I am my “mother’s daughter” and I have soldiered on with a brave face.

I have now decided to give something back. I want to help in a way I haven’t before.

It was my 30th Birthday in December 2018, and I have a Bucket List of 30 things. 30 things I have never done/seen before. 30 things to complete whilst I am 30!

I have always wanted to SkyDive so when a friend told me about The Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity SkyDive it was a no brainer. I instantly booked it. I am raising money for the High Dependency & Intensive Care Departments at the Royal Derby Hospital as a Huge Thanks from me and my family for all the support they gave to us in those 3 weeks we spent by Mum’s side.

I would like to thank every single person that looked after my Mum during her stay at the Royal Derby Hospital. You all went above and beyond and the care she received was outstanding and I know she will be forever grateful. I have also since registered to be an organ donor.

Long Live the NHS!”

If you would like to support Sam in her fundraising, head over to her JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sam-brauner