Tot's organs save at least two lives after backyard swimming pool tragedy
A Southwestern Ontario toddler who died after a backyard swimming pool mishap last summer lives on, her mom says, because her organs were donated to two people – including a family friend.
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A Southwestern Ontario toddler who died after a backyard swimming pool mishap last summer lives on, her mom says, because her organs were donated to two people – including a family friend.
Last July, two-year-old Ella Crossett died after falling into her family pool. The pain of the tragedy has been slightly eased by the knowledge that organ donation helped others, said Ella’s mom, Kristin Luckins of Sarnia.
Her heart went to a boy whose identity the family doesn’t know. But other organs went to family friend Owen Wallis, a six-year-old who needed a liver, bowel, stomach and pancreas transplant for a type of intestinal pseudo-obstruction called hollow visceral myopathy.
Luckins said she’s friends with Owen’s mother and asked that he and Ella be checked for donation compatibility when it was determined she wouldn’t survive.
“It turned out that Ella was a perfect match for him,” Luckins said, adding through tears that she considers her daughter a hero. “Because I can see (Owen) thrive and I can see him do all the things she used to do before.”
Luckins and her husband Jamie Crossett are both registered to be organ donors. She’s urging others to consider doing the same.
“I think it was just already in our mind,” she said about the process of deciding to donate amidst their grief. “I just want to encourage people to think about the hard stuff now. You’ve got such a short window to decide.”
Donor registration rates in Lambton County rank 10th in the province, according to beadonor.ca, at 57 per cent. Sarnia is sitting at 23rd at 55 per cent.
“We want to educate the general public that they should declare their intentions on how they feel about organ donation to their loved ones and their family members” and register for donation at the Trillium Gift of Life Network-managed website, said Dr. Glenna Cuccarolo with Bluewater Health.
“It really facilitates the organ donation discussion if an unexpected tragedy occurs and it makes the families and loved ones more at peace with the decision.”
Bluewater Health announced recently it’s again receiving awards through Trillium for conversion and eligible approach rates.
The awards acknowledge converting medically suitable donors who die in hospital into actual donors, and for starting talks between Trillium network officials and eligible patients and families about donation.
About 1,400 people are currently waiting for lifesaving organ transplants in Ontario, officials said.
Luckins, who also has young sons, runs Sarnia Scare Grams, where she dresses up as horror characters for birthday parties and events. She said her daughter shared her love for Halloween.
She’s made donations in recent months to Ronald McDonald House and Victoria Hospital in London in her daughter’s honour, and has collected some 400 costumes, decor items and Halloween makeup for an Ella-Ween event she’s planning later this year.
“That I’ll be able to share with families who may be struggling for Halloween, just to alleviate some of the financial pressure,” she said.
Details are pending but it may be held on Oct. 21, Ella’s birthday, she said.
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