‘My late husband’s organs transformed the lives of four people’

Arlene Hutchinson's husband Mark was just 52 when he died unexpectedly last year after suffering two strokes “out of the blue”.

Like many couples, they had never discussed organ donation, but she knew he wanted it.

Now Arlene and 12-year-old son Jack find solace in the fact that Mark helped change the lives of others.

She said: “He lives in four people. This can only be a good thing.”

Arlene and Jack, who live near Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire, hope their story will encourage people to talk about the sensitive issue before it's too late.

They also want to raise awareness about strokes.

Arlene, 51, who works in marketing, met Mark in 2004.

He worked in behavioral health and safety, but they didn't become a couple until 2007.

Arlene described him as the love of her life and they married in New York in 2010.

Jack was born two years later and they were soon joined by family dog ​​Luna.

She recalled: “The three of us lived a truly happy life.”

Arlene said they had a “healthy” family lifestyle.

The couple did not smoke, ate well and loved to walk with the Moon.

But last summer, their lives suddenly turned upside down.

Arlene and Jack took the dog for a walk while Mark showered and prepared for the family celebration.

When they returned, Arlene said Mark was excited.

“He told me he didn't feel well at all and fell down,” she said. “He just wasn't himself. And his tongue went numb.”

Mark's speech began to falter and one side of his face drooped—classic symptoms of a stroke.

“It was very, very frustrating,” she said.

They tried to calm him down while they waited for the ambulance.

Upon arrival at the hospital, Arlene was told that her husband had a blood clot on his brain, but he was still conscious and sitting up.

She said there was “fear” in Mark's eyes and he was taken to the stroke unit.

In the coming days there was talk of recovery.

But then Mark had a second stroke and lost consciousness.

Arlene said she “still had hope” as they waited for scan results, but they delivered the “devastating” news that Mark was severely brain damaged.

“There wasn’t a good outcome,” she said.

“I knew Mark would never want to be like that – where he just couldn’t do anything for himself.

“I'll never have to do anything more difficult than telling Jack.”

As Arlene came to terms with the news, she spoke with the donor team.

She said: “We decided this is what we want to do.

“Mark should have died. I felt like it was an easy decision for me to make.

“Knowing who Mark was, I know his heart would have been to help others.”

Two days later he died and was taken to the theater.

Arlene said: “An amazing team of organ donation specialists intervened.

“They cared for Mark and my family with so much dignity and respect.

“They were with us in our darkest moments and when Mark passed away.

“The team found four recipients of Mark’s organs and we have since, surprisingly, heard from one recipient whose life has completely changed since Mark received two kidneys.”

Arlene and Jack recently presented an art installation at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary dedicated to organ donors.

Artist Shela Swanson was commissioned to work with relatives of donors as well as young people in more than a dozen high schools to create ripple effect art.

The workshops were conducted with students from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire secondary schools in Stonehaven, Kemney, Huntly, Inverurie and Peterhead.

Arlene said she was honored to unveil the artwork and added: “I am in awe of what the small but dedicated team of organ donors have achieved and will be forever grateful to them.”

Everyone in Scotland has become automatic organ donor from 2021 according to the new laws, unless they waive them.

Under the previous system, more than half of Scotland's population was registered to donate their organs or tissue after death.

People are now assumed to have consented to the donation unless they state otherwise.

There are some exceptions, including children under 16 and adults who are unable to understand the new law, such as people with dementia.

The goal is for more people to receive life-saving and life-changing transplants.

People who do not want their organs to be donated for transplantation can opt out through Organ Donation Scotland website.

Arlene said her husband “just wanted to spread joy.”

She added: “He was caring, a big kind man. He had a wide smile on his face the entire time. He was such a happy man.”

Reflecting on his loss, she said: “We will never know why as it happened completely out of the blue.

“It’s been over a year and every day is hard. All this changed our lives.”

Jack, now 13, described his father as “always upbeat and happy.”

He said: “He was very funny, always doing stupid things to make us laugh. He always got us going.”

Asked how he felt about the fact that his father's organs ended up helping four other people, Jack replied: “It's a comfort.

“I'm very proud.”