麻豆社

Mayra lives in Brechin, in Angus. She moved to Brechin from Mexico City in 1994. Andrew was a little boy at that point. His younger brother Stuart was born a couple of years later.

Andrew died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage in Ocotber 2011 whilst at a boxing lesson. He was 15, and he dreamed of being a Royal Marine and saving lives. He was taken to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, but his heart had stopped beating by the time he got there. His donated organs helped at least 9 other people, including a 10-month old baby. Mayra says there was never a question that Andrew would want his organs donated, given his compassionate nature. She now urges others to sign up to the organ donor register and did so herself after Andrew died.

Mayra spoke fluent English when she moved to the UK, but struggled with Dundonian accents at first. However, the community welcomed her from the start and she valued that kindness and support enormously after Andrew's death. She shares a conversation with Mark, one of her two best friends. The other is his wife Leticia, or 'Lettie'. Lettie and Mark were almost like aunt and uncle to Andrew and his brother Stuart. Mayra gave a speech at their wedding when they got married a few weeks after Andrew's death. She said it gave her something positive to hold on to during a very difficult time.