Nelson Olivares at NHS Blood and Transplant invited me to share Margot’s story at a Blood Donor Recognition Ceremony in central London yesterday.

With Digby at the Blood Recognition Ceremony yesterday

I’m always happy to do these talks because it’s about as close as I’m ever likely to get to saying ‘thank you’ to all those blood and platelet donors, who selflessly donated to help Margot and our family in our time of need.

It’s my hope that these wonderful people, who have donated blood 100 times or platelets 250 times (an astonishing commitment to donation spanning decades), might find something in my daughter’s story that helps them relate to some of the desperate circumstances and situations that people find themselves in, when they need blood and platelets.

This was one of the larger events with 450 people in attendance and I was pleased that it coincided with the end of term at school, so Vicki & I could bring my two youngest children, Digby (10) and Humphrey (8) with us as well. I’m never quite sure what the children know or how they feel about Margot, the older sister they never met, but I’m pleased that they had the opportunity to attend yesterday and to hear more of what happened.

…and now

Then…

After the formalities, I met a number of people who came up to say hello, one of whom was a blast from the past – Tina Vorley helped set up a talk to sixth formers 9 years ago (see my old blog post below)… Tina remembered my visit to Mayfield School in Dagenham and came over to say hello.

I ended my talk by showing this video, which was something I created several years ago, to mark what would have been Margot’s 6th birthday. The video shows photos from the time of Margot’s diagnosis, her hospital stay and also the legacy that she has left behind.

Please watch and share.

Team Margot
Together, saving lives

A dreadful co-incidence or just another awful stat of life ?

Yaser

Husband to Vicki and father to Oscar (2007), Rufus (2008), Digby (2015), Humphrey (2017) & Margot (2012-2014)