Heartfelt donation given to new Transplant Centre
The family of Elaine Johnson, who sadly passed away in July after ongoing heart complications at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, have donated £1500 to the new Birmingham Transplant Centre in her honour.
Elaine 's husband of 14 years Brian and her son Tom greeted the transplant team with the incredible cheque. The family wanted to donate to the new transplant centre due to how well Elaine was treated during her nine months in hospital. Instead of flower contributions at her funeral, donations to the transplant centre were asked for.
Sara Williams raised over £350 in Elaine's memory by producing beautiful artwork. The prints were produced through her Hello Henry store.
Tom said: “Elaine was Sara 's biggest champion and a source of constant love and support to Sara. ”
The thoughtful pieces were gifted to the transplant team to honour Elaine in their offices.
Elsa Perry, a heart & lung transplant and VAD coordinator, said: “As a team we 'd all gotten to know Laine and her family and were deeply saddened by her loss. It was a pleasure to be able to meet with her husband and son and we were touched that they had gone to such lengths to bring us such a wonderful tribute and had felt able to raise funds in Laine 's memory for resources for other transplant patients even amidst their grief.
“We plan to utilise this money on a wheelchair to aid patients during the set-up of transplant and for exercise equipment for inpatients to maintain strength whilst on the urgent transplant waiting list. This is so valuable for their recovery path and also for their mental wellbeing during their wait.
“We will cherish the beautiful rainbow picture in out transplant assessment office, a lovely reminder of a beautiful lady and her family who loved her so much. ”
Throughout her life, Elaine was an avid and passionate fundraiser. This was fuelled further after the passing of her daughter Chloe at just 18 years of age. Chloe tragically died in her sleep of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in 2004.
Elaine and her family set up the 'Chloe 's Starlight Fund ' and raised an incredible £1,230 to buy a Public Access Defibrillator in Chloe 's name in their hometown of Banbury. To raise the funds, Elaine walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge despite the illness she was battling.
Brian and Tom said: “She possessed an incredible inner strength that carried her through some of the most difficult challenges life can throw at someone. She gave so much of herself to family and friends and always made time for people. She was an incredible listener and people felt they could open up to her due to the incredible warmth she projected.
“With her infectious outward demeanour, it 's hard to believe the unimaginable pain and suffering she endured. She never wanted to burden anyone with her problems but would wholeheartedly make time to listen to others. She was much loved and admired by all the staff that cared for her during her time in hospital. She was a very special person, so full of love, compassion and care for others. She is dearly missed by all who knew her. ”