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Bereaved Mother Unveils Cardiff Donor Memorial, Urges Family Talks on Organ Donation

Her advocacy follows donations from her husband and son that saved at least four lives.

Overview

  • Anna-Louise Bates appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning, growing emotional as she recounted losing her son Fraser, 7, and husband Stuart a decade ago.
  • She opened a memorial garden in Cardiff this week to honor donors and encourage open conversations about consent.
  • Ten-year-old Roman, who received Fraser’s heart, attended the unveiling, underscoring the human impact of donation.
  • Wales adopted a soft opt-out system days before the deaths, yet family agreement and a lengthy administrative process were still required, BBC Wales correspondent Thomas Morgan reported.
  • Bates founded the charity Believe to challenge stigma, and BBC Breakfast noted consent rates rose after the law but fell last year to a decade low, with Covid, fewer campaigns and limited resources cited.