A Midlands mother, whose tireless campaign for public access to defibrillators has saved two dozen lives, has been recognised in the King's New Year Honours list.
A Legacy Born from Tragedy
Naomi Rees-Issitt's world changed in 2022 when her 18-year-old son, Jamie Rees, suffered a fatal cardiac arrest in Rugby. In a cruel twist, as his friends desperately tried to help him, a nearby defibrillator was locked inside a school building and inaccessible. Driven by this devastating loss, Naomi channelled her grief into action and founded the charity OurJay in Jamie's memory.
The foundation's core mission is to raise awareness about the critical importance of accessible defibrillators and to install them in communities across the country. To date, their work has been staggeringly successful. OurJay has installed 320 publicly accessible defibrillator units, with a further 200 placed in locations like gyms and police vehicles, bringing the total to over 500.
Royal Recognition and Lives Saved
On November 25, which would have been Jamie's birthday, Naomi received the letter informing her she would be awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her services to the community. "I felt incredibly proud," she said. "In my mind, it's Jamie Rees BEM and I'm his name and voice. This isn't for me, it's for everyone who supports our charity."
The honour is a testament to the tangible impact of her work. The charity knows of 24 lives that have been saved directly because of its efforts. Twenty-three of those saves were due to defibrillators they installed, and one was thanks to a bleed control kit housed in one of their defibrillator cabinets.
Naomi also revealed that Jamie's own generosity sparked this legacy. While on life support, the family discovered he had signed up to the organ donor register three times. Five people received his organs, including a lifesaving transplant for an eight-month-old baby. "He started something," Naomi said, "and four years later, we're continuing his legacy."
Building Confidence and a Star-Struck Coincidence
While much of the initial focus was in the Midlands—with Rugby now having 175 public defibrillators, up from just seven—the campaign has a national scope. Naomi is now determined to bridge a crucial gap in education. "It's not part of our national curriculum to teach how to use defibrillators," she stated. She has already educated 8,000 people in Rugby alone, visiting schools to build public confidence. "By using a defibrillator, you're giving people the best chance of survival," she emphasised.
In a poignant coincidence, Naomi shares her place on the Honours list with actor Idris Elba, who was a favourite of Jamie's. Jamie had even named his bearded dragon 'Luther' after Elba's famous TV role. "Jamie would have been very excited," Naomi reflected. "He would have been looking forward to visiting Buckingham Palace in the hopes of bumping into him. It seems the stars aligned."
Despite the incredible progress, Naomi insists the work is far from over. Awareness about defibrillators remains minimal, and she believes "a hell of a lot more is needed" to ensure everyone knows how to access and use these vital devices, turning personal tragedy into a powerful, life-saving force for good.
