The importance of organ donation

52 years with you, 6 without you.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take. But by the moments that take our breath away.

 As the anniversary of Guys death comes and goes for the 6th time I decided to continue his organ donation story. After conversations with people I realised that it is not well understood the process of organ donation. Sadly, it needs to be the perfect storm for it to be able to proceed. For our family it was just that. Guy was pronounced brain dead. His life was being sustained by life support and the discussions began. The Donate Life team were lovey and very supportive and although it was a traumatic time, as I look back and reflect on it, our family realise it was the right decision. This is also further evident as we read the lovely letters from the recipients and hearing how it has changed their lives.

I would like to take this opportunity to encourage the readers of this article to visit donatelife.gov.au and read the stories of people who have both donated and received organ and tissue.

Organ donation Statistics

191,000 deaths in Australia

84,000 deaths in hospital

1,530 potential donors

1,435 requests

793 consents

513 donors

This represents a consent rate of 55%.

The reality is that few people die in such a way that donation is possible. Organ donors must die in hospital where the body can be medically supported until organs can be retrieved. There are as many as 1,850 Australians, adults and children, on the list at any one time. There as many as 14,000 people on dialysis while they await a kidney transplant.

In Australia only around 2% of deaths - approximately 1,250 each year meet the criteria to be an organ donor. Both organs and tissue such as veins, bone, skin and parts of the eye can be donated.

When a person dies in hospital staff will check with the family if that person is a registered donor. Specialist doctors and nurses will meet with the family and continue to provide support during and after the donation. Medical testing is done on all organs to be donated to ensure they are medically suitable for transplant and matched to potential recipients. The majority of deceased organ donation takes place after a doctor has declared a patient to be brain dead.

Donate Life Week is the national awareness week held in July each year. This year it is from 28th July to 4th August. Sadly only 36% of Australians are registered to be donors. If you would like to like to be a donor please talk to your family. Visit the donate life website to find out how. MyGov and the Medicare app are other ways to register.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, your lifestyle or medical history you can still register.

Guy has helped 2 families to live happier healthier lives through his gift and we as a family are proud and grateful for that.

People rush to get rid of grief because it is seen as hanging onto loss. Grief is really hanging onto love - which is why you always feel it.

In memory of a loving son, brother and much-loved uncle

Guy John Derrick

20-4-1966 ~ 11-7-2018

Forever in our hearts