But for Rachael and Chris Ketchell the decision to donate their daughter Tahlia’s organs was not difficult as they had seen the positive impact donation had on the life of Bella Dyer.

Bella was born with Biliary atresia, a childhood disease of the liver in which one or more bile ducts are abnormally narrow; blocked; or absent, but in 2008 she was gifted with a live-saving liver transplant at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. 

Lisa and Justin Dyer, Bella’s parents, were friends with Rachael and Chris, and over the years their children developed connections. 

Lisa and Rachael spoke about their daughters’ friendship, and how Bella’s transplant inspired them to donate Tahlia’s organs.  

“We’ve sort of become closer in the last 12 months since [Tahlia died],” Rachael said. “We donated her organs to stop another family going through what we were going through.” 

Bella, along with Tahlia’s brother Codey, will compete in the Australian Transplant Games from September 24 to October 1 in Western Sydney.

“When I went to the games in 2014 I participated in heaps of events and it was quite fun,” Bella said. 

The 13-year-old was looking forward to meeting other children who had received organ donations and hopefully adding a few more medals to her impressive collection of nine.

For the Ketchell family the games were a great way to connect with other donor families, Rachael said. 

“Our main reason for going is as a family to honour Tahlia...and also give Codey a chance to meet other children who had been through what he went through,” she said. 

The upcoming games were being used to mark the importance of registering as an organ and tissue donor.  

Transplant Australia chief executive Chris Thomas said the games were a way of saying thanks to donor families. 

“It’s a way to honour their loved one’s gift of life,” he said. 

Transplant Australia host the games every two years, uniting those touched by transplantation and organ donation through sporting activities. “Our athletes demonstrate living proof that transplantation saves lives,” Mr Thomas said. 

To join the Australian Organ Donor Register visit donatelife.gov.au.