THE PARENTS of a man who needed a heart transplant have fitted a defibrillator in Chard in memory of the young donor who gave their son "his life back".
Revd Len and Jacquie Schofield, who live at Bishops Court in Chard, said that after Covid their son Barry, 46, was left with diabetes, heart failure, and kidney problems.
In September 2022, a match was found, and Barry’s heart transplant went ahead a few months later, in December.
Barry and his family said they “are so thankful to the family of a young man of just 23 years for giving our son his life back” and decided to install a defibrillator at Bishops Court in memory of the donor.
Revd Len and Jacquie Schofield said: “Covid a couple of years ago left our son Barry aged 46 years with diabetes, heart failure, and kidney problems.
“As time went on, he was gradually deteriorating. Barry was in and out of hospital many times.
“Eventually, he was put under the care of Papworth Hospital in Cambridge which informed him that he was heading for a heart transplant.
“His condition continued to worsen, and he was placed on the list. As his body was retaining too much fluid.
“In September of last year, Papworth took him in as an in-patient until a match could be found.
“Thankfully for us as a family, in December a heart became available and the transplant went ahead.
“We are so thankful to the family of a young man of just 23 years for giving our son his life back.
“We can’t imagine how they must be feeling. We just hope that they have some comfort in knowing that their sacrifice has given Kelly, Barry’s wife, her husband back, and his son Ryan, his dad back.
“As we are not in a position to express our gratitude to the donor’s family personally, with the idea coming from our neighbour Denise Evans we think we have found the perfect answer.
“With all this in mind, we are donating this defibrillator to the area of this part of Chard. This is in memory of the young donor to whom we are forever grateful.
“The defibrillator, fitted about a week ago, has been deployed on two occasions. We are grateful to Abri for fitting it by the entrance here at Bishops Court.
“Barry is now doing very well; and has recently returned home from a holiday in the Netherlands.”
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