Prepare today to meet an exceptional woman, Nathalie Grall Sorensen who I met over 15 years ago when we were posted with our families in Dakar Senegal.
Her story is one of devastating loss – our worst nightmare as mothers – but also of love and Resilience and how she became a passionate advocate of organ donation in the UAE, devoting herself tirelessly to her mission and to the ‘Viggo effect’.
A powerful message of what we are capable of, inspiring every one of us to become a better person.

BIO
Nathalie is French and has been living in Dubai for the last 15 years.  She grew up in Normandy, France, married a Dane, lived as expat in five other countries before the UAE and has two children: Viggo and Coralie.
Coralie lives in Spain and runs an agro-forest farm “the green rebel “” with her partner Carlo and have a lovely two years old name Paulo.
Nathalie has always worked in whichever way she can, to help others. She ran a pottery workshop in Senegal to help deaf children rejected by their family.
In Dubai, she was lucky to spend a lot of time with her son Viggo, supporting him with school and activities and his passion for golf. 
She is not only passionate about humans but animals too and has been in charge of an animal welfare organization in Dubai for the last 13 years, to educate and guide people and improve animal welfare. 
Her son Viggo, a golf champion, tragically passed away in Dubai two years ago, just three months shy of his eighteenth birthday. It was a brain hemorrhage. They chose to donate his organs and by doing so he has saved five lives.  
Nathalie decided to turn this tragedy into transformation, turning loss into legacy.  She lobbies passionately for organ donation, helps the transplant program and is Ambassador for the aftercare of donor families. 
“Viggo left me an important mission: to advocate organ donation, to inform of the value of donation, to care, and share experience and help build a bridge with family donors.

She has attended over 25 conferences to give speeches/testimonials and to share Viggo’s story, as well as appearing across multiple media channels, congresses, conferences, hospitals, tirelessly promoting organ donation every chance she can. 
Nathalie received an Award from the UAE health authorities and an award from the French consulate in Dubai for her humanitarian work promoting organ donations in the UAE. 
Viggo’s story continues to save lives.

Links : 
– VIGGO’s story : https://youtu.be/ceeco5xUkx8?si=IS5jbXEgNyAUCA-S 
– LinkedIn : http://linkedin.com/in/nathalie-grall-5aa45a
– Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/nathalie_grall?igsh=amd4OGV6OTgxenBn&utm_source=qr

IF YOU’D LIKE TO BE A GUEST OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO’D MAKE A GREAT GUEST FOR THE PODCAST, OR WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST A TOPIC TO DISCUSS, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH AND LET ME KNOW.

Other Episodes You Might Enjoy