Original version

BBC World Service Online

Migrated podcast image for: Outlook

Outlook

Factual: Life Stories

True stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary events that have shaped their lives.

Outlook: 15/12/2010

15/12/2010

BBC World Service - Outlook, 15/12/2010

Harry Kiernan talks about helping his wife to die and being an altruistic organ donor.

HARRY KIERNAN
Twelve years ago Harry Kiernan's wife Denise committed suicide. She had been suffering from progressive multiple sclerosis which is a degenerative condition. Because Harry had done nothing to stop her, he was convicted of second degree manslaughter and given a suspended prison sentence.  After her death Harry wanted to help people in whatever way he could.  So Harry, aged 57, has become one of only a handful of altruistic organ donors in the US - he gives his organs to complete strangers without payment.  

MAKING A DIFFERENCE
12 year old TJ Barrett Dunn and his 13 year old sister Sheneisha live on a housing estate in North London that was once plagued by gangs of youths. The violence got so bad that they were too frightened to go out and play.  Frustrated by the lack of action, the kids came up with a scheme which takes a new approach to tackling gun and knife crime. 

SAMUEL WILBERFORCE
Samuel Wilberforce was born in Tema, a small coastal city in Ghana. His mum was a single parent who worked as a fishmonger to feed her family. But she was determined that Samuel should get a good education. And her efforts have paid off,  because, as Samuel tells Matthew Bannister, he is now researching a PhD at Cambridge University in the UK.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Outlook

15/12/2010

Genres

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service