Doug, donor - NSW

It has taken 25 years to tell this story that affected our families lives for ever.

Doug was our middle child, with an older sister Alissa and younger brother Michael. Alissa and Doug were very close and Michael who was four years younger, idolised his older brother.

Doug was just that cool dude that got on with everyone and always had a smile on his face. He had played football, loved his basketball, spent a lot of time on his electric guitar and he loved cars.

He was an apprentice electrician who had great hands-on abilities. Doug had a great group of friends, and we have no doubt would have been there all the way through Doug life’s long journey that was cut short by the cruel fate that came his and our way.

Doug had been trying to get his licence and had missed on the first go, two weeks later he made it and it was no doubt one of his happiest days.

I got a phone call from Doug letting me know that he just got his license, and he was over the moon. He asked if he could pick up a mate and go for a drive before heading off to work. I said sure mate well done.

Thirty minutes later I received a frantic phone call from my daughter Alissa telling me to come home as Doug was involved in an accident locally. Two blocks from home……… I had to call my wife Nancy who was in Newcastle three hours away to let her know the news. Nancy started to drive back to Sydney in torrential rain with our youngest son Michael in the car.

When I arrived at the scene Doug was getting medical treatment. Head and leg injuries. The Jaws of life were used to get him out of his car, Doug waved to me, and I waved back. He was then placed in a medical coma and transported to hospital by air.

The endless waiting game started with glimmers of hope only to be driven away by despair then it would start again over the next day and again the next 2 days after. The doctor wanted to take Doug off life support, but we weren’t ready to give up the fight just yet, we negotiated another day as we said we were considering donating Doug’s organs.

We were granted our time, but time had run out for Doug at the end as his organs were starting to shut down. It was either let him go and at least help others or try to hang on and help no-one.

Nancy had had a talk with Doug prior to him getting his licence about being a donor if anything happened to him in the future. He committed himself to this cause (that’s our Doug) and we went through with his wishes.

Doug had just turned 17 earlier in the month and passed later in that same month. He lost his battle but gave others a chance to have a real difference in their life’s struggle.

To those who received the gift of life from our son, you should know this, you got the best of the best. We hope you are still getting the benefits of Doug’s gift and continue to do so for many years to come.

Both Nancy and I will be donors when the time comes and of course Nancy has had the same talk to Alissa and Michael. Have a talk to your loved ones and squeeze everything you can out of life for yourself and others.

Story written by Doug’s dad Greg.