An Ayrshire family have partnered with St John Scotland to install Public Access Defibrillators after the tragic loss of their daughter Laura.
The Hendersons have helped donate defibrillators around the area Laura grew up, the first in the Centre in Stewarton, the second at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Kilmarnock and now the third outside the Robert Burns World Federation (RBWF) in Kilmarnock.
Laura was only 42 when she suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in March 2021 when she collapsed whilst out for a run.
Despite the best efforts of those who came to her aid, Laura never regained consciousness and passed away a few days later, leaving behind a three-year-old daughter.
Growing up in Ayrshire, Laura loved the works of the Bard and thus the Robert Burns World Federation offices were the family’s choice as a fitting location to honour her memory.
Laura’s brother Jason said: “We were distraught to lose Laura at such a young age and in such sudden circumstances.
“It has been an incredibly difficult time since she died, but as a family, we were keen to do something positive in her memory, so we decided we wanted to install defibrillators around the area she grew up in and places that were meaningful to her.
“As a child, Laura was the winner of a regional competition for reciting Burns. Her prize was a book on the works of Robert Burns, which she treasured. The RBWF is now the recipient of one of these life-saving machines.
“St John Scotland follows up after each installation with bystander CPR and defibrillator awareness training sessions which we wholeheartedly endorse.”
Laura’s mum Norah said: “In addition to supporting St John Scotland, who have been fantastic, we are also keen to support organ donation.
“After Laura passed away, she donated her organs, and we take great comfort knowing she was able to give someone else a second chance at life.
"Knowing my beloved daughter helped save or improve the lives of others, and so prevent their family from suffering the loss we have experienced, has helped us cope with losing Laura.”
Jason added: “We hope that by providing these defibrillators, we can prevent another family from going through the same heartbreak we have.”
Laura’s family continue to work with St John Scotland to identify further locations in Ayrshire where more life-saving defibrillators can be installed.
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