It is a privilege to work with families who choose for their child to be an organ donor, and it has shown me, that at the worst imaginable time, people are capable of incredible courage, strength and generosity.
It’s a decision that we all hope we never have to make, but it’s something that we should not be afraid to talk about.
I see my role as providing ‘emotional first aid’ to families and rather than asking them for something, empowering them to make the decision that’s right for them. The family is always my primary concern, they need compassion, respect and the opportunity to make informed decisions.
Away from the bedside, I am also committed to raising awareness of organ and tissue donation, to bring the topic “out of the shadows” and make it one that we can and should talk about.
The public perception of donation is that it’s a great opportunity but rarely needed. However the reality is that it’s a rare opportunity and there is a great need.
Only one to two percent of all patients who die in hospital are eligible to be organ donors.
At any one time there are around 1500 people so sick, they are on the waiting list to receive a life-changing organ, and up to 100 of these are children.
What can be donated?
Donations can include organs or tissues. Organs that can be transplanted include the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, intestine and pancreas. Tissues that can be transplanted include heart valves and other heart tissue, bone, tendons, ligaments, skin and parts of the eye, such as the cornea and sclera.
Who can be a donor?
Almost everyone can donate organ and tissues – there is no age limit on the donation of some organs and tissues. The determining factors are how and where someone dies, and the condition of their organs and tissues.
If a child dies within an intensive care unit, it may be possible to donate tissue and organs. If they pass away outside of intensive care, only tissue donation is possible.
This is why only one to two percent of all people who die have the potential to be organ donors.
Why do families decide to donate?
The decision to donate a child’s organs is always very emotional and personal. Unlike adults, children have not thought about organ donation and had the discussion that adults are encouraged to have with their loved ones. The most common motivations for families giving consent for their child to be a donor are:
- It’s an opportunity for something positive to come out of tragedy.
- He/she would have wanted to help others
- It will give someone else a better life
- It feels like the right thing to do.
The facts about donation
There are some common myths about organ donation that regularly come up when I am discussing the topic with families. It’s comforting for families to know that:
- They can see and spend time with their loved one after the surgery.
- The surgery is performed by the highest trained surgeons.
- Donation won’t delay funeral arrangements and they can have an open casket.
- There will be no disfigurement.
Australians as a community are largely altruistic with 69 per cent stating they are willing to become an organ and tissue donor, but when asked, the national average for consent to donation is only 59 per cent. Raising awareness for organ donation is an ongoing process. We need as many people as possible to know that just one donor has the potential to transform the lives of up to ten people. It’s a decision that can be truly life-changing, often life-saving. Last year, I supported five families who generously consented to organ donation. From this generosity 16 lives were transformed.
I always remember one experience with a young boy who became a donor and his family. After leaving the young man’s family alone to say their goodbyes, I re-entered the room to find a message written on the whiteboard in his room. It read:
“Thank you to an amazing team. You gave us the strength to continue when we needed it the most, you gave us hope for our young man. You answered our questions when we needed to know. You treated our little man with dignity, respect and compassion. For this we will be forever grateful to you all.”
Caring for someone going onto organ donation is always emotional, finding a note like that makes it easier, it shows that what we do makes a difference to families – both those donating and those receiving the gift of life.
#donatelife