One particular characteristic of the Maltese society is its ability to come together in time of need. It is a known fact that as a culture our nation is a generous one. Besides being a gem in the Mediterranean,Malta is a small country with a big heart. Generosity and altruism is rife on this little rock, and the presence of voluntary organisations, NGOs and numerous charitableactivities is widespread on the island.
One such activity is the Life after Drewcampaign which saw its beginnings a short while after this very newspaper had interviewed the couple, Sharon and Kenneth after they tragically lost their son Drew as aresult of a fatal brain hemorrhage.
Like others before them, these brave parents had taken the decision to give their consent in June of 2016 to donate their son’s organs. Since then they embarked on a campaign to raise awareness on organ donation. Today, two and a half years later, we are following them in their journey and this campaign that they named Life after Drew.
The name relates to the fact that despite the tragic loss of their son’s life, there is still life after Drew: namely that of his family who soldier on despite the heartbreak and loss they feel, and that of the recipients of his organs, who have gained a new lease of life thanks to Drew. The aim of the campaign is threefold:
1. To pay tribute and honour Drew and others like him (past, present and future) who left a legacy behind and live on in the recipients of their organs,
2. to create awareness on the importance of organ donation, and encourage new registrations,
3. to emphasise the importance of support that is needed to living donors, families of deceased donors andto recipients.
For this end Kenneth, Sharon and Claire (Kenneth’s sister) together with Drew’s sister Bobbie, have teamed up with Transplant Support Group (TSG) Malta to work on a campaign which is now in full swing and soon nearing its final most important stage.The campaign will culminate in early February and will involve various entities across the Maltese Islands in all aspects of the media, namely TV stations, social media platforms, radio stations as well as other traditional media such as billboards.
They are working within a network of individuals involving various organisations both governmental as well as private ones who together with an impressive line up of celebrities, personalities and lay persons alike will all be working hand in hand towards this noble cause.
The campaign has a tagline of ‘Be a Hero: Become a Donor’, and this is primarily the message that the members of the Life after Drew and TSG organisation wish to pass on to the public. One selfless action, one heroic gesture can save multiple lives.This is what Drew achieved, and thanks to him, 7 people live on and have a better quality of life. The message is clear: life is a gift,and many have the privilege of living it healthily;however there are many individuals who are waiting for a second chance in life, a better quality of life. Registering one’s wish to be an organ donor means that the torch of hope and life is passed on to someone else – very few have this prerogative.
Another important aspect of the campaign is to raise awareness on the importance of continuous support to families of deceased donors, living donors as well as recipients. The subject of organ donation is a very sensitive one and is still considered a taboo subject worldwide, however initiatives like the Life after Drew campaign can help to encourage discussion, that may commence within the family and possibly extend to the wider society in general. The setting of the discussion can vary from a light hearted dinner table chat to a more profounddetailed educational dialogue that will be able to provide information leading to a moreknowledgeable society who will be able to address the varying issues surrounding the subject of organ donation accordingly.
The campaign will be hitting the streets very soon and can be found moving in front of you while you are in the car orstanding by the side of the road as you go past it on your way to work. You may find it waking up with you and seeing you off to bed, and it will even be with you inside your kitchens and living rooms as you prepare breakfast and sit with your family and friends in your living rooms to watch your favourite TV program.
So watch this space, follow the Life after Drew campaign on Facebook and on Instagram (#tsgmalta). You can also make a difference by joining the noble cause of Life after Drew and Be a Hero | Become a Donor- by signing up on organdonation.gov.mt.