Cyprian Kromiszewski, a Police Scotland officer from Fauldhouse, died unexpectedly in 2023 aged 23. After his death, five of his organs were donated to recipients across the UK, giving them the chance of more time with their loved ones.
Kromiszewski made history in 2019 when he joined Police Scotland just days before his 19th birthday, becoming the youngest officer in Scotland. His family described him as a kind, loving and caring son, stepson and brother, ambitious and deeply committed to helping others in both his personal life and his work.
Family's pride in organ donation
His liver, pancreas, heart and both kidneys were given to people in need of transplants. His family, supported by a specialist team at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, said knowing his donations have helped others has brought some meaning to their devastating loss.
His mum, Marzanna Swierczewska, said the family had discussed Cyprian's wishes years earlier when he was completing paperwork as part of his application to join Police Scotland. She said: "I had no doubt he would want to help others, as that was his nature."
Urgent call for organ donation conversations
Marzanna hopes her son's story will encourage families and friends to have conversations about organ donation before it is too late. She said: "We are all from different countries, religions, and cultures, but ultimately, we are all human. Your body can help others once you have left this earth."
"Speaking about it means that your family will know what you would want. It can be such a difficult time when someone dies, so knowing your wishes can make an incredibly difficult situation just a little bit easier."
"I am so proud that although Cyprian is no longer with us, he has gone on to save other people. It truly reflects the person he was in life, which is someone who cared deeply about others and simply wanted to help."
NHS urges public to sign organ donor register
As Organ and Tissue Donation Week continues, the family hope his story will encourage others to speak to their loved ones about their wishes. People in Scotland aged 16 and over can choose to be an organ and tissue donor or opt out.
Professor John Casey, transplant surgeon at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, said: "Each year, thousands of people's lives are saved or improved thanks to the generosity of organ donors like Cyprian."
"Before he died, he had made his wishes clear and had the opportunity to discuss them with his family and loved ones, and it's stories like this one which are a strong reminder just how important that conversation is."
Anthony Clarkson, director of Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said the UK was facing "one of the most challenging periods for organ donation in over a decade". He said a decline in donors and a rising number of people waiting for transplants required "urgent action".
He added: "There is a simple action the public can take to help save lives. Please sign the NHS Organ Donor Register. Most of us would accept an organ if we needed one but opportunities to save lives are being lost because families didn't know what their loved ones wanted. Leave them certain."
It takes two minutes to confirm an organ donation decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. Each donor can potentially save up to nine lives.
