Lisa McConnon has received two life changing gifts in her 27 years.
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Ms McConnon was diagnosed with end stage kidney failure as a young child.
At three-years-old she received a kidney from her mum – a living donor.
She said this generous gift from her mum allowed her to live a normal childhood.
“It was basically a birth defect. I was born with only one kidney, and only 10 per cent worked,” she said.
“Both my parents knew before I was born, and then it was just a matter of who would be the best match. And, that was mum.
“I think because I was so young I didn’t really notice. I was in and out of hospitals and I got sick easier, but in the scheme of things, I didn’t really feel that sick as a kid.”
However at 23-years-old, her kidney function began to decline.
“I think over time it just wore out,” she said.
“It did last 21 years, which is quite incredible for any organ donation. So that was a good start.”
She went on dialysis in early 2017.
In June, she received the phone call to say a kidney had become available.
“It didn’t really sink in until it had all happened. Because they don’t do transplants in Tassie, it was basically get on a plane and get organised and get over there,” she said.
“You don’t really get time to think about what the reality is until afterwards.
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“I don’t think I realised how sick I was on dialysis until I did get the transplant, because it was such a gradual decrease.”
DonateLife’s Thank You Day on November 18 provides an opportunity for Australians to reflect on the importance of organ and tissue donation, and for recipients to acknowledge the generosity of donors and their families.
In 2017, 1675 Australians received a lifesaving transplant due to the generosity of 510 deceased and 273 living donors and their families. A further 9600 Australians benefitted from eye and tissue transplants.
In Tasmanian, the numbers of organ donors in Tasmania have grown with 19 donors in 2017, representing the highest donor rate per million population across Australia.
Close to half of the state’s population aged 16 years and over are registered donors.
“Thank you to all the families out there who do consider donation on probably the most difficult day of their lives,” Ms McConnon said.
“It can make a difference. There’s certainly a million new possibilities for me that I would have never had on dialysis.”
DonateLife executive officer Davin Hibberd said the organisation had “incredible respect” for the amazing act of generosity donors provide.
“It’s a pretty incredible gift that Lisa has received twice, once from her mum and then from a deceased donor,” he said.
“It raises the point for the rest of the community that on hearing this story, take the opportunity to talk to your family about organ and tissue donation.
“Talk about your wishes, and then register to donate on the DonateLife website. It’s quicker than ever to do it.”