The organs of a young woman who struggled with mental health issues after being subjected to horrific sexual abuse have saved at least four lives. Shannon Hackling's life support was turned off on May 2 days after her mum, Tracey, found her barely breathing after an overdose and self-harm injuries.
Tracey said that she took some comfort in knowing her daughter, from Evesham, Worcestershire, "goes on" due to the organ donation. Shannon was found by her mum on April 27. On May 2, she died at Worcester's Royal Hospital.
Shannon hadn't signed up to the organ donation register, but staff at the hospital asked Tracey if she would give her consent for Shannon's organs to be donated. Tracey said yes, giving the gift of life to at least four other people.
Perhaps most poignantly, Shannon's heart saved the life of a child, reports BirminghamLive.
Tracey, 48, said: "It was an easy decision. I said yes to everything but her eyes, as she would have gone mad at that. The way I see it is that Shan's story didn't end on May 2, she goes on.
"Her heart beats in the body of a young child. Her lungs are breathing air for a lady who was running out of time and a man who'd been waiting for over three years received one kidney and her pancreas.
"Her other kidney went to a young man in his 20s who had been waiting over three years. Even her bones are being used for amputee patients while her blood and cells have gone to hundreds more.
"That was all remarkable, but the best for me was that Shan's skin has been donated to help burn victims feel beautiful again. Although Shan had destroyed most of her skin from self harm, the surgeon said the skin on her back was beautiful and could be donated to help others."
Tracey recently opened her heart about Shannon's history of self harm and mental health issues. She claimed Shannon took her own life after being traumatised by memories of the horrific abuse she suffered at the hands of rapist Barry Nash.
Nash, aged 20, then of Evesham Road, Norton, was convicted in 2014 of repeatedly raping Shannon when she was a 12-year-old schoolgirl. He admitted six counts of rape of a child under the age of 13.
Nash had an extra three years added to his prison sentence, increasing it to a nine-year jail term by judges at London’s Criminal Appeal Court. Tracey said Shannon bravely gave evidence in court on her 13th birthday before he was jailed for the horrific crime.
But animal lover Shannon also suffered bullying, claims Tracey, which added to her mental health issues. Tracey added that by talking to others about Shannon's organ donation, she felt she was making a difference.
She said: "I've had about five people tell me that they have altered their driving licence so they are donors. How amazing is that!
"One was the funeral director who looked after my daughter's funeral. All the people Shannon helped through death are fighting some sort of battle. It's amazing how long those people had been waiting."
Tracey has set up a GoFundMe page to highlight Shannon’s story and also get support for herself and Shannon's pets, as she is struggling financially since the death. More information can be found on local mental health support on the Trust's website at www.hacw.nhs.uk
If you need someone to talk to, The Samaritans helpline is available 24 hours on 116 123 or by texting SHOUT to 85258.
You can register your decision on organ donation at website www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision or call 0300 123 23 23.
