I am a passionately outspoken advocate for Organ & Tissue Donation & Transplant Awareness in Australia & around the world 🌎.  My advocacy over the last year as resulted in some remarkable achievements in a space where anomalies had existed in legislation for over 40 years.

 

I started my transplant journey only 2 years ago setting out to shake trees & rattle chains. I have learned so much from the amazing people involved. From other recipients, living donors, physicians, clinicians, administrators, politicians, volunteers & perhaps the group I have learned most from is Deceased Donor’s Families.

 

Despite millions of dollars spent on awareness for Organ Donor Registration, wellness & sporting activities for recipients & administration of a system to facilitate organ donation & transplants, numbers in Australia are not improving like in other countries.

 

It is from the families of deceased Organ Donors who had no idea that they were to become a part of the Transplant Journey, that I have gained the most insight from.

 

Some had seen an advertisement or some other story about becoming an Organ Donor. Some had ticked the box on their driver’s licence many years ago & thought nothing more about it.  Some had even more recently registered via Australian Organ & Tissue Authority DonateLife.

 

ALL had been asked if they would give their consent to their loved ones organs to be donated to save the lives of strangers after a tragic event & leaning of the passing of a loved one.

 

Many of the Donor Families I have spoken to were not allowed to publicly discuss their loved ones gift of life in public for fear of prosecution under laws in WA, SA, ACT & NT that made it an offense punishable by severe fines if they did so.

 

Many had received not on going support to cope with the grief & the decision to give the gift of life.

 

I am very grateful for the support I have received on my journey & the opportunity to personally benefit from participating in many activities that set out to raise awareness for life saving transplants.  Any opportunity for recipients to show the world the power of transplants is good. Be it Jersey Day, Saffron Day, DonateLife Week, Thank You Day, Walks promoting organ donation or the World Transplant Games. 

 

A most treasured events is Donor Heroes Night - Thursday 18th of May,  held to commemorate those who’ve given the gift of life. The person who passed & went on to save others & the family who gave #Nextofkinconsent. Without families who at their deepest moments of grief find the compassion & selflessness to give the gift of life, deceased donor recipients wouldn’t be.

 

If Australia is to increase organ donation rates more quickly than we are, we need to focus on how to make it easier for families to say YES, when  confronted with extreme loss.

 

I‘ve received criticism from some for my stance who believe the ways of the past 40 years are enough. Change in focus is needed. 

​​