A stranger’s generosity in 2012 will forever be remembered by Deb Donnelly and her family as a life-changing gift.
The gift came in the form a donated kidney, following a diagnosis from her doctor in 2003 that her body was going in to renal failure at the age of 46.
Deb would go on to complete dialysis treatment three times a week to maintain normal renal function while on the waitlist for a suitable kidney to become available.
“My life revolved around dialysing. Last-minute breaks were out of the question, my fluid intake had to be carefully monitored and I couldn’t even enjoy a mango at Christmas,” Deb said.
“So many aspects of my life were limited, things you simply take for granted, but I was grateful dialysis treatment was keeping me alive and really lucky to have support from my family and friends.
“My treating team at the Base Hospital were also amazing and became like family.”
An early morning phone call in 2012 from the Queensland Kidney Transplant Service advised a donor kidney had become available after nine years on the waitlist.
Deb said she needed to make her way to the airport as soon as possible in preparation for her long-awaited kidney transplant.
“I arrived at the PA Hospital before my kidney giving me ample time to get ready for the transplant procedure,” she said.
“After the procedure I needed to stay in hospital for three months, which is a lot longer than most transplant recipients, but I had some issues that included a plasma exchange.
Following her successful kidney transplant Deb now leads a normal life that she describes as “freedom”, something she hadn’t experienced for almost a decade.
“Receiving a new kidney means so much. I can now enjoy more time with my five grandchildren, eat a wide range of food without worrying how it will affect me and participate in a normal, everyday activities with family and friends again,” Deb said.
“For someone, a stranger, to make such a generous decision around donating their organs…it just blows me away. I thank my lucky stars every day.”
This week marks DonateLife Week, a key initiative that highlights the benefits organ and tissue donation has for transplant recipients and their families in Australia.
Mackay Hospital and Health Service Donation Specialist Nurse Coordinator Donna Contor said the initiative is in its tenth year and will be held from 25 July to 1 August.
“During DonateLife Week we’re encouraging Australians to register as organ and tissue donors, and to have the conversation with their family and friends,” Ms Contor said.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are, your medical history, your lifestyle, what country you’re from or how healthy you are – you can still register as an organ and tissue donor.
“Importantly, tell your family of your wish to become a donor as the decision will ultimately come down to them.”
There are currently around 1,800 Australians on the waitlist for a life-saving organ transplant and a further 12,000 people on dialysis who may benefit from a kidney transplant.
Ms Contor said in 2020 the generosity of 463 organ donors and their families helped save the lives of 1270 Australians.
“The gift of organ and tissue donation gives recipients a second chance at experiencing all of the love, joy and adventure that life has to offer,” she said.
“One minute is all it takes to register and means that one day you could save the lives of many people.”
Registering to be an organ and tissue donor is quick using the online form via donatelife.gov.au, existing myGov account, Express Plus Medicare app or paper registration form.
