Each year, many Australian lives are saved and transformed by organ and tissue donors and their families.
DonateLife Thank You Day, acknowledged annually on the third Sunday of November, pauses, remembers, thanks and recognises the difference organ donors and their families have made to Australian lives.
Since the DonateLife program began in 2009, more than 6000 people have become organ donors at the end of their life.
Thanks to the donors, more than 17,000 Australians have received a life-saving organ transplant and thousands more have benefited from the generosity of eye and tissue donors.
At Northern Health last year, three families said ‘yes’ to organ donation.
The three donations saved and transformed the lives of nine very grateful recipients.
Seven families said ‘yes’ to eye and tissue donation, restoring sight and changing the lives of 14 recipients.
Last week, alongside acknowledging the donors and their families, the donation specialist team also highlighted and thanked Northern Health staff for their invaluable contribution.
“Organ and tissue donation would not be possible without the commitment, teamwork and caring nature that is in place to support the donation team, patients and their families through organ and tissue donation,” medical donation specialist Dr David Crosbie said.
Nurse donation specialist Bridget Walters said the role of the donation specialist was a unique and privileged role.
“It is very humbling to sit with a family and learn about the patient, where they share intimate moments and stories with you, whilst feeling such grief and loss,” she said.
“The decisions of families saying ‘yes’ to donation, have literally saved the lives of others they have never met.”
The donation specialist team encouraged staff to log on to the DonateLife website, donatelife.gov.au, and read the family donor stories where Australians share what it has meant for their loved one to become an organ donor, as well as stories from recipients about being given that second chance at life.
DonateLife Victoria urges all Victorians to have a conversation with their loved ones about becoming an organ and tissue donor and to register at donatelife.gov.au.
