![\"smiling](\"https:\/\/nararavalleymedical.com.au\/staging-sept\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Carl-farmer-organ-donor-sm.jpg\")
<\/figure>Carl* was 66 when he died in a fatal farming accident. He was a kind, hard working man who loved his farm and his grandkids. <\/em> This 28 July to 4 August<\/strong> is Donate Life Week<\/a>. It is talking about organ and tissue donation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are 1800 people in Australia currently waiting for an organ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A further 14,000 are on dialysis<\/strong> waiting for a kidney due to chronic kidney condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Australia is a world leader for successful transplant outcomes. Research says 4 in 5 people agree<\/strong> with becoming a donor, but only 1 in 3 register<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In the tragic event of a serious accident, a family is required to give final consent<\/strong>. In the midst of shock and grief, that consent is often withheld if they were not<\/em> already aware of a donor’s decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This Donate Life Week, we ask you to consider becoming an organ and tissue donor. But we also ask you to have a conversation with your family about your decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have the conversation beforehand, they are more likely to follow your wishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lots of different people of all ages can benefit from your kind act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kidneys, lungs, heart, liver, pancreas, and large intestine (or colon) are the organs usually transplanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A tissue donation means parts of tissue are removed and transplanted into another person. Tissues that may be transplanted include heart valves, parts of the eye, heart tissue, veins, skin, tendons and ligaments, and more.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Transplant surgeons are highly sensitive to the body of the donor. Just like a living person receiving surgery, the donor’s body will be treated with sensitivity and care. There will be no visible signs<\/strong> of organ or tissue donation. The donation process is treated with respect and dignity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are lots of myths about organ and tissue donation. It’s always your choice, but make sure you’re not misinformed by checking these frequently asked questions from the Donate Life website.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2024, there was a 3 percent increase in the number of donors over 2023. However, the consent rate was low at 53<\/strong> percent. It is understandable to be in a state of immense shock and grief in such situations as having to consider giving consent for organ and tissue donation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By having this awareness campaign, we are hoping families will consent to the wishes of donors who have registered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speak to your family about your decision to donate<\/p>\n\n\n\n In some cases, people can also be living donors. Usually, this is a kidney or part of a liver to a relative or close friend. The living organ donors program supports these donors by reimbursing some out-of-pocket expenses and providing 9 weeks of minimum wage. It is not an incentive to donate. The rewards are deeply personal, not financial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To register, visit donatelife.org.au\/register<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Talk to your family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two years after Carl’s funeral, his family had lunch with the families of nine strangers who had received organs from Carl or tissue. There was a six-year-old girl who had part of his liver. A 19-year-old man who had his lungs, a 44-year old mother had his heart, and others who had skin, valves, kneecaps, and a new cornea for sight. To register, visit donatelife.org.au\/register<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Talk to your family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n –<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article is general information only. It does not replace personal medical advice from your doctor. If you would like to discuss your health, please make an appointment<\/a> at Narara Valley Medical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Donate Life Week encourages organ and tissue donation. It also asks you to have the conversation with your family letting them know your wishes. Like Carl did.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[108,2,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-108","category-articles","category-general"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
When his family were asked to give their final consent to organ donation, they didn’t hesitate. <\/em>
Yes, they said. He was always a generous man. He would have wanted his death to help somebody else.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nDonate Life Week<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Please have the conversation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here are some interesting facts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Who Might Need an Organ or Tissue?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
What organs are usually donated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What tissues can be donated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What if my family wants an open casket funeral?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Myths about Organ or Tissue Donation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Living Organ Donors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n![\"celebration](\"https:\/\/nararavalleymedical.com.au\/staging-sept\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Large-celebration-of-carl-picnic.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The family didn’t realise how significant Carl’s decision to register had been. Even though it was devastating to lose Carl, they thought his transplant had helped one person. In fact, it had helped nine completely different people.<\/strong> And all of their families too. In total, the lunch was attended by more than 40 people.
Those nine all had only one thing in common\u2014gratitude. They thanked Carl for registering as a donor. They were also grateful to his family for giving the final consent.<\/em>
*Carl’s story is used for illustrative purposes. Carl is not a real person.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n