Midlands Mother Honoured for Lifesaving Work After Son’s Death

Naomi Rees-Issitt, a mother from the Midlands, has been recognised in the New Year’s Honours List for her exceptional efforts in raising awareness about defibrillator access after the tragic death of her son, Jamie Rees. In 2022, Jamie, 18, suffered a cardiac arrest in Rugby, where friends attempted to perform CPR. Unfortunately, a nearby defibrillator was locked inside a school, leading to a critical delay in lifesaving efforts.

Following this heartbreaking experience, Naomi founded OurJay, a foundation dedicated to ensuring public access to defibrillators. Since its inception, the foundation has successfully installed 320 accessible defibrillators across the country, with an additional 200 placed in facilities such as gyms and police vehicles, bringing the total to over 500.

On November 25, the day that would have marked Jamie’s birthday, Naomi received a letter announcing that she would be awarded a British Empire Medal for her contributions. Reflecting on the honour, she stated, “When I got the letter, I didn’t really understand what it was. I rang my mother who explained it to me, and once I realised how big this was, I felt incredibly proud.”

Naomi emphasised that this recognition is not just for her, but also for those who support OurJay. “In my mind, it’s Jamie Rees BEM, and I’m his name and voice,” she noted. The foundation has already confirmed that 24 lives have been saved due to their efforts, with 23 of those saved through defibrillator use. Additionally, one life was saved using a bleed control kit located in the defibrillator cabinet.

Jamie Rees had expressed his desire to be an organ donor, and his decision to register led to five individuals receiving transplants, including a lifesaving organ donation for an eight-month-old baby. Naomi asserted, “He started something, and four years later, we’re continuing his legacy.”

Most of the defibrillators installed by OurJay are located in the Midlands, particularly in Birmingham and Jamie’s hometown of Rugby. Before Naomi’s initiative, Rugby had only seven public defibrillators; now, there are 175 accessible to the community.

Interestingly, Naomi’s recognition coincided with that of actor Idris Elba, a favourite of Jamie’s. Naomi remarked, “Jamie would have been very excited that Idris Elba was on the New Year’s Honours list. He would have been looking forward to visiting Buckingham Palace in the hopes of bumping into him.”

Despite the progress made, Naomi insists more work is needed to raise awareness about the importance of defibrillators. She expressed concern that there is no requirement in the national curriculum to educate students on how to use them. “So far, I’ve educated 8,000 people in Rugby, including school visits and teaching sessions,” she said. “We need people to build the confidence on how to use them. By using a defibrillator, you’re giving people suffering a cardiac arrest the best chance of survival.”

Naomi’s commitment to expanding this vital training continues, as she highlights that “a hell of a lot more is needed to raise awareness; it’s minimal at the moment.” Through OurJay, she aims to ensure that communities are better equipped to respond to cardiac emergencies, continuing the legacy of her son. For further information on the foundation and its initiatives, visit their website.