HE HAD hoped for a happy ending - but a grieving husband, who features in a documentary about the harsh realities of waiting for an organ transplant, now hopes the tragic twist in his story will deliver an even stronger message to encourage people to sign the NHS Organ Donor Register.

When Luke Yates and his wife Sam began filming A Love Worth Giving four years ago, the couple had hoped the documentary would end with Sam receiving the double lung transplant she so desperately needed.

But time ran out for 28-year-old Sam, and during filming she lost her battle with cystic fibrosis, on April 4, 2013.

She had been waiting three years for the life-changing call which tragically never came.

Her grieving husband made the decision to finish the film in her memory, to act as a lasting legacy of Sam’s determination to make a difference to the lives of others waiting for transplants.

The 28-year-old, who lived with Sam in Preston Candover, said: “I felt that I needed to finish the work we started together and almost immortalise Sam’s memory and fulfil the purpose of the documentary, to raise awareness about organ donation.”

Sam, who was a teacher at Kempshott Junior School, tirelessly campaigned to encourage more people to sign the donor register. Her final act of selflessness was to give the gift of sight to a stranger, by donating her eyes when she died.

Now her husband hopes others will be moved by her story and be encouraged to sign the register.

A Love Worth Giving tells the story of the couple’s journey together.

Sam was diagnosed with the degenerative lung disease at six months old, but she did not let it prevent her from living an energetic and fulfilling life.

Luke, a research scientist at Imperial College London, said: “Sam had an appreciation of life that I didn’t. Having cystic fibrosis meant she wasn’t sure how long she’d live, so she embraced life fully.”

The 20-minute film is directed by James Newton, a close friend of Luke and Sam’s. It shows the moment Sam received the call she had been waiting for, only to reach the hospital and discover it was a false alarm.

Luke said: “We thought the documentary would end with Sam getting a transplant and us looking back on this and thinking ‘gosh it really made a difference’. But the reality is it didn’t happen like that.”

Basingstoke Gazette:

Luke Yates with wife Sam

Despite grieving for his wife, Luke knew he needed to finish the film and continue Sam’s campaign to raise awareness.

He has now launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the £15,000 needed to finish the documentary.

Luke said: “The statistics are that three people die a day in need of an organ. That’s three families like me who have to think ‘if only we got that transplant’.”

He added: “We want this documentary to go to audiences worldwide. We want people to think about organ donation and realise it’s a very sensible thing to do, to make use of your organs after you have passed away. My tragedy highlights that.”

People can donate to the appeal and in return have the name of their lost loved one included in the credits.

Luke said Sam would be proud of the documentary, adding: “She really wanted to help others get a transplant in any way she could. She gave up a lot of her own time to campaign.

“Part of me feels that this is another one of those elements to that legacy that she leaves behind. Of course it will be sad that the film isn’t what we wanted, but it’s glossed over in the media. We hear about the success stories but there are a lot of people who die waiting.”

He added: “I will always wish that Sam was here. I wish we had a better chance of getting an organ because she would still be here. I’m sure of that. I miss her terribly.”

To pledge support for Luke’s documentary, visit kickstarter.com/projects/jamesnewton/a-love-worth-giving.

And to sign the NHS Organ Donor Register visit organdonation.nhs.uk.