Memory Boxes for Donor Families in Northern Ireland-Working in Collaboration with Donor - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Memory Boxes for Donor Families in Northern Ireland-Working in Collaboration with Donor Family Mary Hayes- Specialist Nurse Organ Donation, Northern Ireland.INTRODUCTIONIn April 2022 Northern Ireland Organ Donation Services Team (NIODT) introduced Memory Boxes to be offered to donor families. This was achieved by the generosity of a donor family who purchased and gifted the boxes. Specialist Nurse Organ Donation (SNOD) worked closely with family to ensure keepsake items BackgroundIn August 2021 I was contacted by Joanne, her brother was a multi organ donator a few months prior to our call. Money had been raised in lieu of flowers at funeral. Joanne and her family wished to use these donations for Organ Donation and in particular something that could comfort donor families. Joanne spoke about how much comfort they as a family had taken from handprints they had been given as keepsakes. I suggested memory boxes for families. Joanne supported this idea.We met regularly to discuss and research what should be included in the memory box. Sample items were ordered and each item was shown to Joanne’s family for approval.Time was spent researching boxes, colour and size were important. After months of research Joanne purchased the items and gifted them to NIODT. RESULTSThe memory box is aesthetically pleasing, a simple cream box with magnetic clasp holds donor hairlocks, handprints, forget me not seeds, rhythm strip in a small glass bottle, and my personal favourite “heart in their hand” key ring-The keyring is heart shaped- and contains a small heart in the centre of a larger heart, the idea is that the same heart is placed in the donors hand, the next of kin keeps the larger keyring. NIODT have reported that donor famillies react very positively to these boxes. Awareness of this initiative was supported by the Western Trust – with over 25K views on social media. CONCLUSIONMemory Boxes are an important aspect of a bereaved family’s journey. I am so proud that NIODT can offer poignant memory boxes to our donor families.

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3. Supporting Children to say Goodbye Natalie Ashley, Specialist Requester, Eastern Organ Donation Services Team Lucy was 10 when her Daddy was involved in a fatal accident whilst out cycling. Her mother, Charlotte, asked for help explaining to Lucy that Andy was going to die. Many hours were spent with Lucy, initially in the relative's room then moving to the bedside. So many memories were shared, and new ones made, sharing stories and photographs with the specialist nurse and bedside nurse. Handprints and drawings were completed. Supporting Lucy to spend time with her Dad at the end of his life, and to say goodbye in her own way and in her own time helped Lucy to accept the loss of her father. Supporting his decision to donate is something Lucy is so proud of. Lucy is a huge advocate for Organ Donation and has actively participated in promotional campaigns. She has recorded a short film for organ donation week and will be joining her mother to present at a large Organ Donation study day at her local hospital. Case StudyHistorically children were not permitted to visit sick or dying relatives on the ITU, with the visiting policy stating that no under 12s couldn’t visit. Initially there was considerable resistance when we asked to allow a child to visit a dying relative. There were no resources and there was no structured support for families with children. Unit staff, knowing that the SN-ODs had additional skills, would approach us for support outside of the organ donation process. This led us to increasingly identify the need for, and kinds of interventions that could be offered to support children on the intensive care unit.We have challenged the myths and misconceptions around allowing children onto an ITU, as there is considerable evidence of the benefits this can bring to children who are supported appropriately to do so . It became apparent that referring to the SNODs to help support children was mutually beneficial. As we became increasingly involved in supporting children and families on the unit we were able to formalise the support required and ways in which this could be provided in the form of an SOP.We are now regularly asked to support children when visiting critically ill or dying relatives and the ethos on the unit has completely reversed.We have helped create an SOP to support children visiting on the unit.Provision of leaflets/literature for parents/guardians. We have created resources including lists of support groups/Apps for bereaved children and teenagers and also order and fund all bereavement resources. Additionally we have initiated the referral of children to a local organisation for ongoing bereavement support.We participate in regular teaching on the paediatric study day covering bereavement in children and how, as nurses, we can support them on the unit, as well as organising teaching sessions for the unit from Nelsons Journey and Child Bereavement UK. The provision of this support has allowed the SN-ODs to embed themselves fully as valuable members of the ICU team, not only in the provision of end of life care to donors and their families, but also supporting and teaching others to take on the role of supporting children on the unit.The consistent referral to the embedded team to support children has resulted in early engagement with potential donor families, forming strong bonds and allowing the family to focus on what is often what is most important to them – ahead of considering organ donation.“Lucy was made to feel so very welcome on the unit and she told me her memories of the day are making hand prints with Daddy, choosing a lock of hair and just having precious time with him. ”