I'm fundraising for the Royal Flying Doctor Service
Hello everyone, we are Jai Deguet's family and this is Jai’s brave story.
On February 23rd Jai suffered a very sudden and unexpected cardiac arrest at home. He was transferred to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, by the Royal Flying Doctors Service and flight team, where he fought a valiant fight for life. However, only five days later, on the 28th of February 2024, he lost that battle. Three weeks before his 15th birthday, Jai had medically passed away at 14 years old. He remained on life support machines until February 29th to give lifesaving gifts to others.
Due to Jai’s young age, we had never formally spoken to him about his wishes. I have always been a strong advocate of organ donation, but when faced with the heart breaking decision for your child, it’s difficult to have clarity. However, Jai was a thoughtful and loving kid, who always help others before himself, so we thought it only fitting that he had the chance to save and improve the lives of others.
Jai saved the lives of the following four people:
A man received Jai’s kidney and pancreas.
A woman received the larger portion of Jai’s liver.
A young boy received the smaller portion of Jai’s liver.
A young girl on dialysis received Jai’s other kidney.
Through organ tissue donation Jai also gave the gift of sight back to an older man and an older woman. His heart valves and tissue donation will assist more people and his skin donation will help severe burns victims in the future. Jai was 6ft tall and he was fit and athletic when he passed. Interestingly, his lungs were too big for anyone on the Australian Organ Donor Register.
Jai lived life to the fullest and he did so with kindness, understanding, acceptance, love, a joke and a cheeky grin. He will always be our gorgeous, funny, loving son, brother, nephew, grandson and friend. Jai’s organ donation will allow him to live on in the people he has saved. As we process our grief, the thought of him helping others and the fact he’s not completely gone, comforts us daily. In the future we may receive a letter from the recipients and hear how their lives were improved. We are thankful that their families were spared the grief we go through, thanks to his gifts. Jai will live forever in our hearts. Our hero and inspiration. xo
Neither of the extra time the family was able to spend with him nor the organ donation would have been possible without the care flight the R.F.D.S. gave Jai. We would like to give back to the team, the service and to others in the same or similar emergencies.
Please help us to give back to a wonderful and deserving cause.
