Emotional Channel 4 viewers have been left in awe of Toni Crews, a doting mum who donated her body to be dissected on television.
Toni passed away in 2020 due to a rare form of cancer in her tear gland and decided to donate her body to science, becoming the subject of My Dead Body, a fascinating documentary that aired last night (5 December).
At one point in the documentary, Toni - who was introduced to viewers via AI technology, old diary entries, letters, and social media posts - could be heard telling her two young children: “Mummy will always love you.”
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The emotional moment came towards the end of Channel 4’s documentary, at which point her body was removed from Brighton and Sussex Medical School in a coffin.
Toni’s coffin was then applauded by medical staff as it left the room.
In the next scene, her mum and dad could be seen walking along the seafront with her two children as Toni narrated the touching moment via AI technology.
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She said: “It’s been a difficult journey, but I’ve also had the most amazing time reconnecting with my family and my friends.
“I may have lost an eye, but I can see more clearly than ever what’s important in life.”
Toni’s daughter could then be heard reading an extract from her diary, which read: “It’s mummy here. Promise me you’ll always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and twice as beautiful as you could ever imagine.”
Toni’s daughter’s voice then faded into her own, and she went on: “There will be good days and bad days, but remember to be kind and happy, be grateful and gentle. Mummy will always love you.”
While fascinating and inspiring, the documentary was a heartbreaking watch and after tuning in, impressed viewers flocked to Twitter to discuss Toni's selfless final act.
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"Just watched My Dead Body on @channel4 which was a little bit of a sad story, but very interesting to see what happens with a dissection", wrote one user. "It's nice to think that her body will help with medical science and the research into cancer."
A second tweeted: "Channel 4 - My Dead Body. What an amazing and truly inspirational woman! To leave such a legacy and go on to help so many people in the future by donating her body to science!may she rest in peace."
While a third said: ""I just watched My Dead Body on Channel 4. What an amazing young woman Toni was. What a gift she left for medical teaching, a legacy for the future understanding of cancer. A brave and selfless mother to her children. She will never be forgotten."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
Topics: TV And Film, Health
Aisha Nozari