Doctors induced Ami at 37 weeks after identifying a number of problems, and while Minnie was given specialist treatment at Leeds General Infirmary, Ami and Liam were told that their little girl, who was born with a congenital heart defect, would not survive multiple open heart and throat surgeries.
Her parents then made the heartbreaking decision to let their little girl die in comfort and not in pain. When little Minnie died at just 23 days old, her parents offered doctors their daughter’s organs for donation.
"We would rather she be with us and comfortable rather than dying on the operating table. The doctor couldn't believe we brought donation up. We didn't realise this was something they had never done," said Ami.
The couple, who live in East York and are also parents to a little girl called Lily, have spoken candidly about their heartbreaking decision saying: “Our little girl only lived for 23 days but she saved a life. After the donation, I looked down at her and thought, ‘You’ve been so brave and courageous, and now you’ve done something absolutely amazing’. I felt a swell of pride that has never gone away. She died a hero. Not many people can say that.”
Minnie’s kidneys were transplanted into a young adult, who sent the couple a letter of thanks, something her father finds a great comfort. “It’s a huge comfort to know Minnie lives on in some way in the person whose life she saved,” he said.
Minnie is one of six organ donors in the UK younger than two months.
