Kincumber resident Graham Harrison is inviting all Central Coast residents to take part in Donor Heroes Night on May 18.
Harrison has been actively promoting organ and tissue donation and transplantation through presentations to local Rotary, Lions and Probus clubs from a Donor Dad’s perspective following the passing of his 10-year-old son.
“The saddest day of our lives occurred on May 18, 1993, when my wife Elayne and I had to say farewell to our 10-year-old son Ben for the last time,” he said.
“Three days earlier Ben had been a happy youngster looking forward to an operation to straighten his back, which would provide him with a healthy bright future.
“Unfortunately, fate had different intentions and the surgery failed when his aorta tore and as a consequence, he went 12 minutes without blood to his brain; he was diagnosed brain dead.
“When discussing the diagnosis with Ben’s doctors, we stated that we wished to donate Ben’s organs and tissue to those that needed them most.
“As a result, our decision led us down the path of donation and transplantation, not realising where it was going to lead us.
“We were initially told that Ben’s kidneys went to a middle-aged man and his heart and lungs to a 12-year-old girl in Melbourne.
“During the next few months, we received letters from David, Ben’s kidney recipient, and the parents of the little girl, which were very special for us to receive.
“Through an unusual set of circumstances, we were to meet and befriend David and his family, which developed into a close and long-standing friendship.
“Sadly, after 16 years of friendship, we had to farewell David when he succumbed to cancer due to his medication.”
As an outcome of Ben’s donation and with the backing and support of Donor Families Australia (DFA), Harrison initiated Donor Heroes Night on May 18, 2020, to celebrate and commemorate all Donor Heroes.
“This year will be the fourth year for Donor Heroes Night and it is hoped that over 500,000 hits will be achieved during the four weeks leading up to and including the event on the May 18,” he said.
“This year will be rather special as Donor Heroes Night will be going both national and international.”
The night will pay tribute to the 25,000-plus organ and tissue Donor Heroes over the past 35 years.
It is also intended to raise the profile of organ and tissue donation and transplantation, providing an opportunity for families to discuss the issue of donation and the ultimate outcome of giving the gift of life.
Harrison hopes it will also prompt people to register their wish to donate with the Australian National Organ Donor Register.
“A lot is publicised about recipients receiving their transplants and the wonderful work of the medical staff involved,” Harrison said.
“However, little is ever mentioned of the donors themselves.
“It is Donor Families Australia’s (DFA) opinion that all organ and tissue donors are the true heroes; without donors there would be no transplants/recipients.”
This year DFA has issued 20 invitations to international organisations and agencies to become involved in the hope the event will gain world recognition.
It aims to raise the profile of DFA, enabling it to better serve donor families who go through the system.
It is also hoped that some financial support my come out of the event, with civic minded companies or corporations invited to contribute.
Participants on May 18 are asked to take a photo of their porch/balcony light or light a candle, and in the case of donor families a photo of their donor hero, and post it, along with a suitable comment, on the Donor Families Australia Facebook Page at www.Facebook.com/DonorFamiliesAustralia.
For further information involving Donor Heroes Night go to https://www.donorfamiliesaustralia.org/donor-heroes-night or contact DFA at admin@donorfamiliesaustralia.org.
Source:
Graham Harrison
Donor Heroes Night on the evening 18th May is an on-line event which allows Donor Families, Recipients and members of our community that support organ/tissue donation to go to the Donor Families Australia Facebook page (https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2023/05/help-celebrate-transplant-donor-heroes/) and post a picture of their porch light or candle together with an acknowledgement of our Donor Heroes and the ultimate gift they have given.
The stats indicate that you are 10 times more likely to require a transplant than you will ever be in a position of becoming on organ donor. There is currently 1,800 patients on the transplant waiting list with a further 14,000 on dialysis that could benefit from a kidney transplant if one was available.
People ask how did you manage to donate your 10 year old son’s organs. The response is always the same. When fate came knocking we had no choice. My son was brain dead and he was never coming back. My wife and I felt physically sick with grief, but we new we had the power of life or death in our hands by allowing Ben’s organs to help others and to ensure another family did not have to go through what we were going through. Our choice was a “no brainer”. So if you are going to sign the National Organ Donation Register, please have that all important discussion with your family.