'With the pediatric protocol, you quickly have all the facts in order'

Nikki Duijst is an organ donation coordinator at the UMCG in Groningen. Just after her training period, she had to deal with an organ donation involving a child.

'At the beginning of this year, I guided my first donation involving a child. It concerned a 14-year-old boy. His parents were very pleased that their son's organs could be donated.'

Differences from adults quickly at hand

'I hadn't been working as an organ donation coordinator for very long at the time. The procedure for a child donor is just a little different than for an adult. That is why I read the pediatric protocol through carefully before the procedure. I don't know the small differences by heart. That is why the protocol is so helpful. The diagnostics for determining brain death, for example, can differ. And you also approach the donation conversation differently. If you have all the important points clear in your mind beforehand, the procedure runs more smoothly.'

Protocol helps with questions from colleagues

'It is also pleasant to have all the facts in order when talking to colleagues. Many professionals are involved in a donation procedure, such as an intensivist, cardiologist, neurologist, pulmonologist, pediatric ICU nurses, and the retrieval team. During a procedure, we are mainly in contact with the intensivist. If they have questions or doubts, it is nice if we can refer to a protocol that contains all the important information.'

Supporting the family

'It also contains all kinds of tips and points of attention. For example, it is extra important to offer support, such as spiritual care and social work. Sometimes assistance from a pedagogical worker for any siblings is useful. With deceased children, you also offer things like photos from Make a Memory, footprints, and locks of hair, depending on the parents' needs. The possibilities are just a bit different than with adults.'

Space for saying goodbye

'As organ donation coordinators, we try to make the procedure run as smoothly as possible. We prefer to schedule the various examinations quickly one after another. However, it is important to continue giving the parents the space to say goodbye as fully as possible. It is good to be aware of this. That sometimes means doing an examination later.'

In pairs

'Nine times out of ten, we conduct the conversations with the parents in pairs. This way, you can complement and support each other if necessary. Many situations in our work are sad and distressing, but when it involves children, it often carries a different weight.'

PhD research

Marion Siebelink obtained her PhD in 2013 for research into organ donation in children. She is the initiator of the 'Child as donor' protocol and sees that it is valuable in such an extra emotional procedure.

Read the interview with Marion