A mother from Cardiff has spoken of the "phenomenal" legacy of her young son, whose donated heart has kept another boy alive for a decade.
A Heartbreaking Decision and a Lifesaving Gift
In December 2015, solicitor Anna Bates, 48, faced every parent's worst nightmare. Her seven-year-old son, Fraser, and her 43-year-old husband, Stuart, were fatally hit by a careless driver in Talbot Green, south Wales. In the depths of her grief, Anna made the courageous choice to donate Fraser's organs.
That decision proved lifesaving for 10-year-old Roman, who was born with severe newborn dilated cardiomyopathy. Doctors had feared Roman would not survive without a transplant. Fraser's heart was a perfect match, and the transplant took place shortly after the tragic accident.
A Bond Forged by a 'Magic Heart'
Anna recently met Roman again over the festive period, embracing the youngster in a warm hug. She describes Fraser's heart as "a magic heart" that has created an unbreakable bond between the two families.
"It is just phenomenal that my son, Fraser, has made such a huge difference through his organs being donated," Anna said. "I've got a really close bond with Roman's mum. We have just got this magic heart that joins us."
Roman's mother, Zoe, described the agonising 10-month wait for a heart as an "emotional rollercoaster", with hope arriving only at the last moment.
The Vital Conversation About Organ Donation
Anna, who founded a charity in Fraser's memory, stresses that while the loss "still doesn't feel real 10 years on", the positive outcome underscores the critical need for families to discuss organ donation.
She noted that children often see donation as "a gift of life", while adults can shy away from the topic. Wales became the first UK nation to adopt an opt-out donation system on 1 December 2015, presuming consent unless an individual or their family opts out.
However, Anna clarified a common misconception: families' consent is still sought and is crucial. "These conversations desperately need to be had," she urged. "It's a difficult and taboo subject because we don't want to think about it, but it's so important. Children like Roman have been saved because of it."
The driver responsible for the crash, Joshua Staples, then 22, admitted two counts of causing death by careless driving and was jailed for 16 months.
