| ORGAN DONATION |
| In Australia Donor Families and Recipients are not encouraged to meet but letters can be exchanged. Only limited information is given to both the Donor families and the Recipients. All we know about Alison's Recipients is as follows: Her liver went to a "toddler" Girl Her kidneys went to two adults - a male and a female - both with families. Her lungs went to a teenage Girl. Her heart valves went to two females - one aged 16 and another aged 30. We have received one letter and a Christmas card from the family of the Liver Recipient, and a letter from the Female Kidney Recipient and the Lung Recipient. It was very emotional receiving these letters - the first one came just after Al's 19th Birthday so it was wonderful to receive it just then! I have written to all the Recipients just once - it is so hard to know exactly what to say to them - I would LOVE to tell them all about Alison but as the letters go through the Donor Co-ordinators it is rather difficult as too much information is not allowed. It took me such a long time to write the first letter and when I sent it in to the Co-ordinator to send it off I was told it had too much info and could I revise it? It was so hard to turn around and try and compose something that would be acceptable. I realise why the restrictions are there but it doesn't make it any easier to make the contact! I would love to meet Al's Recipients ONE DAY but realise that it most probably won't ever happen. I have been able to take part in several "Education Seminars" and have been involved in some publicity to encourage Organ Donation. I am also involved in the Organising Committee for the 8th Australian Transplant Games which is being held at the Gold Coast in Sept/Oct 2002. I believe that the Games is a great venue to show the wonderful benefits of Organ Transplantation. |
| ARTICLES - BRISBANE COURIER MAIL Sat. November 12th 2000 Sat. February 24th 2001 THE AUSTRALIAN Thurs. February 26th 2004 GOLD COAST BULLETIN Tues. 24th February 2004 |
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| Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation will be set up in 2006 to promote Organ and Tissue Donation in memory of Zaidee Turner - please click here to learn more. |