A GRIEVING mother whose son helped save the lives of nine people, including a baby, through organ donation has urged others to join the register.
Andrew Crowe died of a brain haemorrhage at the age of 15 before he could fulfil his dream of becoming a Royal Marine.
His mother, Mayra, said it was her son’s desire to help others in the years before his death that prompted her and husband Alistair to give permission for his organs to be donated.
She said it was a comfort to know that Andrew’s death would help others to live to fulfil their dreams, including a young boy who was given his heart.
Mrs Crowe, a lecturer in Spanish at Dundee University, is urging the public to sign up to the organ donor register during National Transplant Week, which begins today, and whose theme this year is “What are you waiting for?”
Andrew, from Brechin, had recently been made a corporal in the cadets when tragedy struck in October last year. His parents received a phone call telling them he had suffered a brain haemorrhage and had been taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.
Sadly, by the time they arrived, Andrew had stopped breathing.
Mrs Crowe said the decision to donate her son’s organs was “not difficult” because of his caring nature and dedication to charitable work.
She said: “He was conscientious about current affairs and he wanted to help injured soldiers. He made plans to raise money for Help for Heroes and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund. He wanted to run marathon distances to help those charities. He had big dreams.
“One day he learned of the death of a Royal Marine serving in Afghanistan, who had been based at RM Condor.
“He was deeply affected and emotionally moved by this. At the age of 14, he decided to buy some white roses and run all the way from Brechin to Arbroath and deliver those flowers as a tribute to someone who had given his life to serve his country.
“That day he impulsively ran a total of 28 miles for a total stranger, which shows a part of Andrew’s caring nature, dedication and levels of fitness.”
Andrew was born in Mexico City, but the family moved to Mr Crowe’s home town of Brechin. His parents say he was “inseparable” from his brother, Stuart.
Andrew’s organs were donated to at least nine people, including a 10-month-old baby.
Mrs Crowe said: “It is not easy to receive the news that your child is going to die, that there is nothing that can be done to make it better, to give you hope, to see him smiling again and to see him achieving his dreams in life.
“When Stuart arrived at the hospital, we all sat together and thought about what Andrew would have done.
“He was now in the position to help others once more, to give a gift, the gift of life, hope and love and to serve a bigger cause. And he has.
“Andrew’s heart is still beating away and giving another little boy the opportunity to fulfil his own dreams. The decision was not difficult. Andrew made it so easy for us to take.”
A number of fund-raising events have been set up in Andrew’s memory, as well as a mural at Brechin High School. A tree will also be planted at RM Condor.
Mrs Crowe said: “My son has been an inspiration to me and many others who knew him. My drive to keep going and my example of generosity to follow comes from Andrew.
“Since Andrew’s death I have signed up to the organ donor register. We all know someone who has health problems, someone in need and someone who could benefit from a gift.”
Mrs Crowe added: “I would wish that no-one would ever have to take such a decision. One just needs to be aware that this gift called life presents us sometimes with adversity. Andrew’s life is a life that goes on, a gift that keeps giving.”
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