Here we share the journeys of six transplant recipients who have received the gift of life from their living donor. They come from different backgrounds and pathways (adult to child, husband to wife, paired kidney exchange program etc).
We hope these videos, along with the advice and education from transplant units, will play an important role in helping patients waiting for a transplant and potential living donors to make an informed decision about living donation.
These stories are based on the most commonly asked questions to help inform anyone looking into living kidney donation. Our work with surveying Transplant Coordinators across the country has helped contribute to videos that are not just inspirational but educational.
Each story is unique and include a variety of pathways to donation to help anyone looking into or on the pathway of donating their kidney.
A decade of kidney disease and subsequent failure was an unpredictable impact on Tom’s life. When both his parents put their hand up to give him their kidney, no one could have predicted that the final choice came down to the toss of an old coin. They were both a match!
Seeing people he cared about suffer serious illness, motivated Gordon to give the most incredible gift. Gordon’s first enquiry into giving his kidney was in a time when it wasn’t even possible in Australia. A number of years later, Gordon’s perseverance and gift of a kidney has brought life to not just a perfect stranger, but a new life and purpose to himself as he continues to raise awareness for organ donation.
Donna’s suffering was met with the unimaginable kindness of a stranger. Something Donna says made her very, very happy, “It was amazing that someone else would do that, for someone that they don’t know.”
Note: Altruistic Donation in Australia, like all organ donation adheres to privacy legislation. Gordon is not Donna’s donor.
Alice’s shock diagnosis led to several loved ones putting their hand up to donate a kidney. In the end, it was her partner, Jed, who was able to give, even though he wasn’t a match. The Paired Kidney Exchange Program has brought a pathway to living donation that results in a domino effect. The gift of life impacting another, and another, and another…
Young Mark’s life suddenly turned on its head when he was diagnosed with kidney failure. Facing his own mortality as a young man, was confronting. Dialysis took its toll until his Dad, Marco, was given the all clear to give his kidney. Rural living meant lots of road trips to the City, but with the end goal of a whole new life for Mark, which is now full of possibilities.
Though diagnosis to transplant was a decade long, the emotional and physical toll on Shivdeep was hard. After several family members were tested to donate but unable, Mandeep was able to give her husband the gift she was willing to give all along. Shivdeep’s description of it being like a rebirth summarises this beautiful story of sacrifice and perseverance.
Though a perfect match in love, their kidney’s were not a match. Yet Tracey & Tod’s determination to see their family’s life come back, helped contribute to the possibility of an ABO incompatible donation. Compatible by love, yet incompatible by blood type, the miracle of modern-day medicine and a great team meant this love story continues.
