‘The gift of life’: DonateLife Week 2024

Alfred Health Donation Specialist Nursing Coordinators Freya Parrotte and Kristen Willmott both know the enormous impact that talking about organ donation with family and friends can have.

“The most common response we get from families when we discuss organ donation is that they had never spoken about it before,” Freya said. “If your family doesn’t know your wishes, it makes it more difficult for them to make a decision on your behalf in the event of a tragedy.

“There are currently more than 1,800 Australians on a transplant waiting list and 14,000 more on dialysis with kidney failure who are waiting for a second chance at life,” Kristen added.

“We know that around 80 per cent of families say yes to organ donation if they know their loved one wished to be a donor. At the same time, less than half will consent when they are unsure what those wishes had been.”

One organ donor can be a lifeline to as many as seven people, and also transform the lives of many others through eye and tissue donation.

“Organ donation is so important because it doesn’t just save lives, it also brings a sense of comfort to many donor families,” added Freya. “A lot of donor families talk about honouring their loved one’s legacy through organ donation and take comfort in knowing that, while they have experienced a loss, hope and a second chance at life is being offered to other families.”

Last year across Australia there were more than 500 organ donors. There are specific criteria for a patient to be an organ donor, and family consent rates are also a factor, so registering to become an organ donor and speaking with your family is key.

Alfred Emergency Nurse Maeve Hamilton knows what the gift of organ donation gave to her family.

“We were fortunate to have an extra three years with my partner’s dad that we wouldn’t have had if he wasn’t the recipient of a heart transplant,” Maeve said.

“To me, organ donation means giving families more time with their loved ones, and is also a reminder to be super grateful for the gift of life.”

DonateLife Week 2024 runs from 28 July to 4 August. For more information or to register, visit donatelife.gov.au