A woman who gave others the gift of life through organ donation was honoured posthumously at an award ceremony last week.

Susan Cable, 40, of Hornchurch died in December 2014 after suffering a cardiac arrest during an epileptic seizure. Her kidneys were donated to two men following her death.

Her husband Jamie, said: “Susan was a very giving and caring person, always thinking of other people. She was very kind.

“We decided between us a family to agree to donation and it was extremely well handled. I am really pleased that we agreed to donation.

“Her kidneys saved or improved the lives of two middle aged men. We feel it’s a positive that we can take from what happened.”

Jamie was among the family members that attended the Order of St John award for Organ Donation ceremony at the Priory Church of the Order of St John, in central London, run in conjunction with NHS Blood and Transplant.

He received the award – displaying the words “add life, give hope” – from Stephen Foakes, a member of the Order of St John and Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London.

NHS Blood and Transplant and the Order of St John hold the award ceremonies to recognise the incredible gift that donors and their families have made by donating organs.

Between April 2014 and March 2015, the number of deceased organ donors in the UK dropped for the first time in 11 years.

Sally Johnson, director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “These families deserve this honour and recognition to mark their loved ones life-saving gifts. We hope their bravery will inspire others to talk about their own decision with people close to them and record their intention to donate on the NHS Organ Donor Register.”

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 2323.