ADY Robinson died suddenly at the age of 36. His family has told of their pride that his decision to donate his organs has saved the lives of three people.

THE death of Adrian 'Ady' Robinson last year from meningitis left the very many people who knew him devastated.

So many wanted to pay their respects at the funeral of the popular 36-year-old rugby coach, that Holy Trinity Church in Stockton on the Forest was completely filled with mourners.

A man known for helping others, Ady (who is pictured below with his son Charlie on holiday in Australia) continued to do so, as on the year anniversary of his sudden death his family still receive letters about his decision to sign the register to donate his organs after he dies.

York Press:

Ady's decision has saved the life of three people and the sight of two others. Among them a young man in his early 20s was two days from death when he was able to receive a heart transplant.

A recent letter has informed his parents Eileen, 64, and Phil, 65, from Strensall, the young man is doing well, has returned to work and is now healthy enough to enjoy a full life.

"When we got the call that someone had got his heart we were all sitting together and someone said 'he has got a damn good heart there,'" his mum Eileen said.

"It makes me feel Ady is living on in someone else. Through our tragedy someone has happiness with their boy, who has now got his life back. Somebody lives through his donation.

"Ady would give you anything, he would give you his last penny, he was very kind.

"We're very proud of him."

Two others - men in their 30s and 40s - received life saving kidney transplants, and his corneas went to help the sight of an 18-year-old and a 43-year-old woman.

A long standing player for New Earswick All Blacks and latterly a coach and club secretary, it was initially thought that when Ady first became ill with an earache last December that he was suffering from severe flu. Ady went home from his job at ISS's depot at Sheriff Hutton but his condition deteriorated and by the time paramedics were called and he was taken to hospital, he was delirious.

He was admitted to York Hospital where he was put in an induced coma.

That evening a brain scan was clear and doctors planned to slowly take him out of the coma and to carry out a lumbar puncture the following day.

But at 6am, his family were told his condition had massively deteriorated, his brain had become swollen and he would not survive.

He left a son, Charlie, ten, partner Julie, and a sister, also called Julie.

"It was traumatic, it all happened in less than 24 hours," Eileen said, "He didn't have any of the signs of meningitis, the only thing he had was an earache.

"Meningitis is a silent killer. Ady was fit and well, the doctor in intensive care said he could not understand how a big, fit lad like him couldn't fight it."

It was at this stage his family were approached to discuss organ donation.

"I knew he carried a donor card and we were reminded of that in the hospital, they asked if we were willing to go along with his wishes," Eileen said.

"We knew what he wanted, it must have meant something to him because he carried the card. If someone can have a new start in life who may have been poorly for years, something good has come of this.

"I can't really understand it when people go against their loved-one's wishes, I can't quite get my head round that. I know it's hard but if that person didn't want to do it they wouldn't have signed up."

Last month, Ady was among 13 people honoured posthumously for saving other's lives through organ donation at an award ceremony in York.

The Order of St John award for Organ Donation was presented to Eileen (pictured below) on behalf of Ady at an emotional ceremony at the National Centre for Early Music in Walmgate. Last year, between April 2014 and March 2015, the number of deceased organ donors in the UK dropped for the first time in 11 years and about three people die every day due to a shortage of organs.

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The Order of St John honours the 1,282 people in the UK who donated their organs after death, leading to thousands of patients' lives being saved or transformed.

Sally Johnson, director of organ donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "The Order of St John award scheme has been running for the last two years. We have been overwhelmed by the pride and experiences shared by the hundreds of families who have accepted the award on their loved one’s behalf. It never ceases to amaze me just how humble people are when you speak to them about having helped to save the lives of patients who were desperately ill. I have never spoken to a single person who has ever regretted their decision to donate.

“These families deserve this honour and recognition to mark their loved ones life-saving gifts. We hope their bravery will inspire others to talk about their own decision with people close to them and record their intention to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register."

Eileen has called for others to discuss organ donation with their families and share their decision about what they would do if called on to donate. She has also called for an "opt out" system to be brought in with regard to organ donation.

"I would sign up to the organ donor register because if the worst happened you could give somebody else another life in your tragedy," Eileen said. "We know this lad in his 20s has a life ahead of him now.

"It takes the decision out of someone else's hands rather than having to make it when you are in a very vulnerable situation and under pressure to make a quick decision."

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 2323.