In August 2011, Gerry Ryan was preparing for her husband Tim to undergo a lung transplant. Instead, hospital staff asked if she would consider donating his kidneys.
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‘’I’d gone in to talk to the transplant co-ordinator expecting one type of conversation – and it was quite the opposite,’’ Mrs Ryan, of Thirroul, said.
‘’I was told that a transplant was not going to be possible for Tim after all, but that there was something he could donate – his kidneys.
‘’After the shock my sons – just 19 and 26 at the time – turned to me and said ‘If you’re willing to receive, you should be willing to donate’. And that’s what we decided.’’
Fortunately Mrs Ryan had also had the important conversation about organ donation with her husband Tim, and knew that’s what he would have wanted.
Now, ahead of DonateLife Thank You Day on November 20, she’s urging others to consider becoming an organ donor, and to let family know their wishes.
‘’We burn or bury far too many organs – they’re of no use to us once we’re gone,’’ she said.
‘’If Tim and I hadn’t had those conversations – even though he’d registered to be an organ donor – I could still have said no.’’
Mrs Ryan said her husband’s story was also a reminder that, despite the state of your health, you can be an organ donor.
‘’We used to joke that no-one would want his organs – he was born with a hole in his heart and had open heart surgery at 14.
‘’Years later he developed rheumatoid arthritis and the steroids he had to take for that gave him a lung condition called bronchiectasis, a type of COPD.
‘’His lungs deteriorated over the years and got markedly worse in 2011, when we were told his only hope was to have a lung transplant.
‘’While that ultimately wasn’t possible, he was able to save the lives of two people.’’
Every year, hundreds of Australians save and transform lives through the ultimate gift of organ and tissue donation.
In the first eight months of 2016, a record 958 Australians received an organ transplant through the generosity of 329 deceased organ donors and their families.
At the same time, more than 1400 Australians and their families are waiting for a transplant with a further 12,000 people on dialysis.
On DonateLife Thank You Day, Australians are encouraged to show their thanks for all donors and their families by:
- Posting a message of thanks on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the hashtags #ThankYouDay #DonateLife
- Showing their support by joining the Australian Organ Donor Register online and sharing their decision with family and loved ones.