Emotional moment This Morning star wells up as guest holds dead sister’s hands after they are donated to another woman
THIS Morning host Cat Deeley welled up as a guest held her dead sister’s hands after they were donated to another woman.
The incredible, moving moment left Cat and co-host Ben Shephard stunned as they admitted they had no idea the procedure to transfer hands could be done.
Deborah Gosling appeared in the studio to explain how her late twin sister Julie’s hands have transformed the life of recipient Corinne Sutton, who lost hers to sepsis in 2013 along with her legs.
After Julie tragically and suddenly died from a brain bleed six years ago, Deborah and healthcare worker Julie’s twin sons agreed to donate her organs and hands.
Surgeons worked for 12 hours to attach Julie’s hands to Corinne’s body and she now has almost full feeling in them, and they have transformed her life.
Deborah said of her sibling: “She was absolutely perfect, my best friend.”
She recalled how Julie had complained of a severe headache on the day of her death, before slurring her words and becoming confused.
They rushed to hospital and while she was being checked in Julie went into a seizure, vomited and became unconscious.
At this time, a specialist nurse asked Deborah about organ and limb donation to which she agreed.
Corinne then spoke about how the hands had changed her life following a bout of pneumonia that developed into near fatal septic shock.
She waited four-and-a-half years for the perfect hands to present themselves.
“I get so excited about my hands,” said Corinne. “I’m so proud of them, but never ever do I think of my hands without thinking of Julie and what the other family went through.”
Deborah added: “Absolutely amazing. When you die your organs and limbs are no good to you and if it can change someone’s life, evidently.”
The pair then held hands and Deborah said: “They’re still Julie’s hands to me. It’s amazing. They couldn’t have gone to anybody better.”