A MOTHER of five who died suddenly has been honoured posthumously after her organs were used to save three lives.

Emma Graham’s family say they are still struggling to come to terms with her unexpected death from a brain haemorrhage days before last Christmas, but her generosity has brought them some comfort.

Her kidneys and liver were given to two people in their 30s and someone in their 60s, while her pancreas was donated to medical research.

But Miss Graham, who was 40 and lived in Buckland Road, Taunton, had always said she wanted to keep her eyes to see where she was and her heart as that contained her soul.

Her partner of 15 years, Wayne Guns, said: “It’s still hard ten months on, but I’ve got to carry on and do the best I can for the children.

“My family have been helping and my cooking’s getting better, but it’s going to be difficult with the anniversary of Emma’s death and Christmas coming up in December.

“It was Emma’s favourite time of the year. I’ll try to make the best Christmas I can for the children, but it will be tough thinking she should still be here with us.

“The children have been very good and talking about Emma is never taboo – I encourage them to talk about her whenever they want to.”

Member of Miss Graham’s family recently attended a ceremony when they were presented with the Order of St John award for organ donation run in conjunction with NHS Blood and Transplant to recognise people saving and improving the lives of others.

“The award made me so proud,” said Mr Guns.

Somerset County Gazette:

CEREMONY: John Roberts, left, of the Order of St John, at the awards ceremony with Emma’s family members Sian Graham, Dawn Guns, Lesley Miller and Nicole le Marchant

“Emma always said she wanted to donate her organs if anything happened to her and it’s nice that she’s helped other families by donating the gift of life. The fact that she has, as far as we know, helped sick people live healthy lives is a comfort to us.”

Mr Guns and Miss Graham, who worked at the Boots pharmacy at the Crown Medical Centre, had four children, aged between eight and 12 at the time of her death, while she also left a 21-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.

Mr Guns told the County Gazette and somersetcountygazette.co.uk last year how his partner never came round after she slipped into unconsciousness after going to bed early feeling unwell.

She was kept on a life support machine at Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital to give her family from Skegness the time to travel down to say their goodbyes.