A family who donated the organs of a loved one have been recognised for the life-saving act at a national ceremony.

Suzanne Middleton-Elliott, her children Ashleigh, 27, Nathan, 18, and Noah, and husband Shaun Elliott picked up a certificate and medal from the Order of St John to recognise the contribution of the organs of Suzanne’s son, Alex Wheeler.

Alex took his life at the age of 21, in November 2016, after secretly battling depression.

The family took the decision to donate his organs while he was in a critical condition in hospital and unlikely to survive.

The ceremony held by NHS England Blood and Transplant in Guildford, Surrey, was to recognise the contribution donors have made.

Mrs Middleton-Elliott, of Ruins Barn Road, Sittingbourne, said it was a “privilege” to receive the honour and it gave the family some peace to know Alex could give life to others.

“For us it was the only decision that felt right, as hard as it was,” she said.

The family has also been asked to support a campaign encouraging people to sign up for organ donation.

One year on from the tragedy, Suzanne said: “In some respects we haven’t really moved on. It does definitely feel like it just happened. You go through lots of different emotions.

“There’s a great sadness and overwhelming guilt, everything you can imagine that’s negative.

“There are times when the children really struggle, and times when they are really together.”

She said she took her hat off to Nathan, who started a new job in the summer and had been “pragmatic” and “practical”.

Mrs Middleton-Elliott attended a mental health awareness course last month at Fulston Manor, where Alex attended sixth form, and is now a mental health first aider.

She hopes to volunteer with Maidstone and Mid-Kent Mind, which ran the course, and recently raised £400 for the charity at a fun run.

The 50-year-old has also been selected to run the London Marathon in April for children’s charity Momentum, which provided support and counselling when Alex was in hospital.

She said she would continue to do her utmost to raise awareness of mental-health issues to prevent other people losing loved ones in similar circumstances.

“I felt like I didn’t have a choice,” she said.

“It takes a lot of energy to put a smile on and get on with things. Sometimes I don’t have it, and other times I think I can’t just sit back.

“People don’t want to die; they just want the pain to stop.

“It takes a lot of energy to put a smile on and get on with things. Sometimes I don’t have it, and other times I think I can’t just sit back" - Suzanne Middleton-Elliott

“They choose the most immediate solution to a temporary problem.

“The message really has to be you have to talk to people and answer genuinely if you are in pain.”

She added: “People don’t know that this happens to normal families. We are just a normal family. It could be anyone. It could be one of your friends on Facebook.”

She went on to say it took two minutes to sign up as an organ donor in England, and urged people to inform their families what their wishes might be.

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116 123.

on her fund-raising page.Sponsor Suzanne