Luke - donor, VIC

When Lacey lost her beloved twin brother Luke, she was understandably devastated, as were their entire family. Lacey and Luke were close and had shared a lifetime of experiences in their 24 years. 

Lacey fondly remembers Luke’s cheeky sense of humour, his profound love of music and sketching, and his passion for his faithful Mitsubishi Lancer, a car he was immensely happy to own.

He was also a kind soul. While Luke wasn’t a registered organ and tissue donor, Lacey recalls that he once expressed interest in donating his organs, should something ever happen to him.

When Luke passed away suddenly, his family were left shocked and grief-stricken. They were also left in no doubt about what he would have wanted.

“I was angry at the start,” says Lacey. “I felt like, why did he have to die to give someone else life? I had to accept what happened to him and that he didn’t need his organs anymore. He could save lives and that was what was important at the end of the day.” 

Luke went on to become an organ donor, making a profound impact in death by saving three lives.    

“Consenting to organ donation was the right decision for Luke. It’s what he would have wanted,” says Lacey.

“I think it’s a good thing and I’m proud of him. It doesn’t make me feel any better that he’s gone, but it makes me feel better that his death wasn’t for nothing,” Lacey says. 

Lacey is a registered organ and tissue donor and she is encouraging others to not only register, but importantly, to have the conversation about organ and tissue donation with loved ones.  

Says Lacey, “Knowing what he wanted helped us. That Luke was able to help others does bring us some comfort as a family.”