Sculpture uses signatures to highlight need for organ donations to save lives

A mother, her late son, the man who received her son’s lungs and twins are among people whose signatures feature in a sculpture created to raise awareness of the importance of organ donations in saving lives.

The cloud-like sculpture – featuring 366 signatures of people who have been involved in the donation process, one for each day of the year including leap years – was formally unveiled at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, near Falkirk, on Monday.

Created by artist Hans K Clausen, the “floating” sculpture, entitled Everyone Everyday Evermore, was conceived by donors, recipients, clinicians and supporters of NHS Forth Valley’s Organ and Tissue Donation Committee.

The unveiling of the piece was part of a programme of wider events organised to celebrate Organ and Tissue Donation Week, which promotes organ and tissue donation.

People are also encouraged to record their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register and discuss this with their loved ones to help ensure their wishes are honoured.

Irene McCusker decided to donate her son Graeme’s organs after he died four years ago aged 40.

She has since been in correspondence with the man who received Graeme’s lungs, Stephen Hake, who has told her how his donation gave him a second chance in life.

Ms McCusker said: “I know some families feel like it might be damaging their loved one, but they’re gone. All that remains is a shell and it’s a lovely feeling to know that a part of Graeme is living on and benefitting someone else.”

The sculpture also features the signatures of twins who both needed a kidney transplant after being diagnosed with a debilitating condition at an early age which would only worsen over time.

Nathan Dewar was given a kidney by his father, Blair, while brother Daniel received his from an unrelated donor.

Their father said: “The procedure couldn’t have gone better and the transformation in Nathan was incredible. The kidney started working straight away and he was discharged a week later with the all-clear.”

Mr Clausen, a graduate of Leith School of Art and Edinburgh College of Art, said: “Handwriting, like fingerprints, represents individuality, while the act of signing your name is a ritual rooted in agreements, contracts, consents and commitments.

“The value of each individual and the importance of collective community meet with equal significance in the process and experiences of those whose lives are affected by organ donation or transplant.

“I hope the final sculpture will do justice to all the people, stories and experiences that have contributed to its evolution and that it can communicate a narrative and legacy of generosity and hope.”

Jane Hall, a former NHS Forth Valley nurse whose husband George was also a donor after he suffered a catastrophic brain haemorrhage, officially unveiled the new sculpture at the hospital.

Mrs Hall, who sits on NHS Forth Valley’s organ and tissue donation committee, said: “Organ donation was the easiest decision I made that day because we had conversations as a family.

“I am very proud of George – his kidneys, heart, liver and pancreas saved the lives of others.

“This is not just a memorial for the donors and recipients, but a reminder that people are about today because of the choices they made; because of the conversations they had with loved ones.”

The project was funded by NHS Forth Valley’s organ and tissue donation committee with financial and in-kind support from Artlink Central, Forth Health, Serco and FES.