PAUL’S STORY
Paul Bannan is an organ donor – one of the few who chose to give his kidney away to save a stranger’s life.
Although Paul donated his kidney to save one random person on the organ waiting list, his journey didn’t start out that way.
He had planned to donate to a close friend.
“Rob found out that his kidneys were on the way out, and he would be on dialysis, on the same day he found out he was going to be a grandfather,” Paul said.
“So, I put my hand up, I let him know, ‘mate if you need a kidney, there’s one here for you’.”
Paul quickly began the process of becoming donor-ready – a tough ask for the 57-year-old from Yea, 100 kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, who admitted he had to completely change his lifestyle to try to help his friend.
“I wasn’t the ideal, fit Aussie. I was 20 kilos overweight and puffing on 30 odd cigarettes a day. So I gave up cigarettes, and lost 25 kilograms.”
But in the time it took for Paul’s kidney to become suitable for the operation, Rob was matched with a deceased donor’s kidney.
Even though Rob no longer needed a kidney donor, Paul felt he couldn’t ignore the hundreds of others on the waiting lists
His kidney provided the final and crucial link in an exchange program – an initiative which matches patients who have willing, but incompatible donors, with other patient and donor pairings who are also mismatched.
His kidney completed the interchange for seven patients in need of a kidney, and set off Australia’s largest kidney exchange.
“Some people might think it’s strange to hand over body parts to a stranger,” Paul said.
“But I’ve got two of these things, and I never saw it as an issue. I don’t think I’m anything special. A lot of people think they don’t have it in them to become organ donors, but I tell them, you do have it in you.”
Three years on, Paul has no regrets about becoming an altruistic donor.
“Bloody oath I would do it again. It’s not about me, I was just in the right place at the right time,” he concluded.
“Life is all about family. On that day, someone got the chance to spend more time with their loved ones, and as far as I know, they still are.”
Source: Dateline
BRENDAN’S STORY
When Brendan Irvine was told his four-year-old son Harry needed a kidney transplant, he had no idea his world was about to change in more ways than one.
While most children know little of a hospital’s inner workings, four-year-old Harry was well acquainted with the constant beeping of monitors and the squeaking of tired feet on hospital floors. At just 18 weeks’ gestation, he was diagnosed with Sacrocooygeal Teratoma – a tumour most commonly found in newborns that had hindered the development of his kidneys.
Both Brendan and his wife, Lauren, were examined to see if their kidneys would be compatible for Harry and after several tests Brendan discovered he was a match.
The grueling process of the transplant itself, and the recovery that would follow was yet to begin – but the Irvines were overcome with relief. The uphill battle that lay ahead was nothing compared to the alternative of a lifetime on dialysis for Harry.
“It was sheer relief once I knew that I could be the donor,” Brendon explained.
“I think the difference between donating to a stranger, and donating to someone in your life is that his health is still my number one priority. “
However, complications remain. Although Brendan was a suitable kidney donor for Harry, their blood proteins weren’t a perfect match. To stop Harry’s body from attacking his new kidney, he has to remain on regular medication.
“I’m constantly reminded that his body will never accept the kidney, so it’s something he will have to deal with – if he went two weeks without medication, the kidney could fail. As he gets older, we need to instill in him that he has to take care of his body,” Brendon adds.
“Donation is really close to my heart, it’s such a rewarding thing as far as saving someone’s life. What better legacy to leave?”
Click Here to watch the full episode: 'It's A Match'
Source: Dateline
