Today, we feature a heartwarming story about love, family and a second chance.

Launceston man John Gibson received not one, but two, donated kidneys from loved ones – first from his wife Lyn, and second from his brother Tony.

Neither Lyn nor Tony hesitated when donating the organ to John, and it gave him a new lease on life that he’ll be forever grateful for.

At The Examiner, we’ve spoken to a number of recipients and living donors over the years about their personal stories and how their lives have been able to change for the better. 

But Sunday isn’t a day to just celebrate those living donors.

It’s also a time to remember and honour those people and families who made that incredibly generous and life-changing choice to donate vital organs in death.

The reality is that the opportunity to donate organs is very rare.

DonateLife’s Davin Hibberd told The Examiner earlier this year that less than 1 per cent of people who die in hospital are able to become an organ donor.

He said there was a far greater possibility of a person requiring a transplant than being asked to donate their organs or tissue.

In fact, there are about 1400 Australians on transplant waiting lists right now, according to the organisation.

For that reason, it’s important for people to understand that simply registering isn’t enough.

Even if you are registered as an organ donor, it will only happen with your family’s consent.

Nine out of 10 families agree to donation when they know their loved ones were registered donors, Mr Hibberd said, so it’s important to tell them.

It is, understandably, a traumatic time for families, when they have to make a quick decision in unexpected circumstances.

But there is help available at the hospital, with a specialist team of clinicians in the Intensive Care Unit, who work with DonateLife to support families through that process.