What is life like waiting on the organ donation waiting list? And what happens when you finally receive that life-changing call?
By law, health professionals must keep the identity of donors and recipients anonymous. However they can write anonymous letters to each other. Here is one of them.
Dear donor family,
I’ve been wanting to write to you for so long but I thought I’d wait till now, till tomorrow, when it’s six months to the day that you made the incredible and beautiful choice to give me your loved ones’ lungs. I’m so sorry that your family member died, I can only imagine the grief you must feel.
I also wanted to say, thank you. The biggest, strongest most amazing thank you. Thank you for allowing me to continue to live and thank you for allowing my friends and family to keep me around, I’ve done so much in six months, I’m back at work which I love and I’ve been too sick to work for well over a year.
Right now I’m over here in Victoria, visiting my daughter who was my carer for three months post transplant. I haven’t been able to fly for years, and I flew here. I haven’t been able to tolerate cold air for years, and we’re on a mountain. And I can breathe. I can walk up steps. I can sing. I can laugh without coughing. And tomorrow I get to ski with my daughter to celebrate this six month milestone. I’m so so excited. She’s so so excited.
And it’s all thanks to you. What beautiful people you are. With every beat in my heart and every breath in my body.
Thank you. I love you.
Documentaryexplores the lives of five organ donor recipients and their families. Watch the groundbreaking documentary on Wednesday January 23 on SBS at 8:35PM.
There are on the waitlist for a transplant, and the national consent rate is only 59 per cent. (and telling your loved ones your wishes) can be life changing for those waiting for organs.
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