Scarlett became an organ donor

Person in graduation cap and gown seated on a large ornate golden chair, holding a bouquet of flowers wrapped in black paper, smiling at the camera with grass and people visible in the background. There is white text on a pink background that reads ‘Scarlett became an organ donor’.

‘Donation was the one thing from our terrible experience of losing Scarlett that made us feel good.’

Sunshine Coast mum Susan and her 2 children were a tight-knit team when the unimaginable happened.

Susan’s 24-year-old daughter, Scarlett, was happily pursuing her dream marketing career when she unexpectedly suffered an embolism and fatal heart attack.

Scarlett was a beautiful, intelligent, and caring girl, who loved make-up and baking. Her mum, brother Chris and his wife Chelsea were beyond shocked and devastated by the news.

However, through their grief, they remembered a conversation between siblings that reminded them they still had an opportunity for something good to come out of this tragic situation.

‘Scarlett told her brother she would donate everything except her eyes because they were the windows to the soul,’ recalled Susan.

‘And Chris had replied that was silly, and if you’re going to donate, you might as well take the lot.’

This conversation was in their minds when medical staff informed Scarlett’s family she was in the rare situation that organ donation might be possible.

Years later, Susan’s family is forging a new path, despite the grief of their loss.

Thanks to her generous choice and that early conversation about organ donation with her family, Scarlett gave 3 others a second chance at life.

‘I didn’t realise just how specific the circumstances have to be for someone to donate,’ said Susan.

‘Imagine if your loved one was the one on the transplant list and just getting sicker and sicker? Donation was the one thing from our terrible experience of losing Scarlett that made us feel good.’