Former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers opens up on meningococcal death of her cousin Jack Klemich and DonateLife

Olivia Molly Rogers has opened up about a devastating family tragedy – and how that grief has been turned into something “positive”.

Olivia Molly Rogers has opened up on the devastating loss – and legacy – of her cousin, Jack Klemich.

The Adelaide-born influencer dedicated an episode of her Tell Me More podcast to “beautiful” Jack, who died after contracting meningococcal B in 2009.

“He was just the best,” she said of the 18-year-old.

“He had such an infectious sense of humour.”

Olivia Molly Rogers lost her cousin Jack Klemich to meningococcal disease in 2009. Picture: Instagram

Olivia’s mum is Adelaide identity Nicky Klemich. Picture: Instagram

Throwing her support behind this year’s annual DonateLife Week, the former Miss Universe Australia was joined by her uncle – Jack’s dad Oren Klemich – to dispel the “misconceptions when it comes to organ donation”.

Mr Klemich, known for his real estate profile, is a powerful public campaigner for vaccinations who has also spent the past seven years on the board of the national organ donation advocacy group DonateLife.

It is a personal mission, sparked by the “very traumatic” loss of his “gorgeous, healthy” son 15 years ago.

Jack Klemich at his St Peter's school formal Picture: Tom Huntley

Oren Klemich and wife Gill. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

“Gill and I were on a trip to New York celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary,” he recalled.

“On the way back, we stopped in Hawaii.”

Mr Klemich recalled calling home to see how Jack had gone at footy the day before.

“Sophie (his sister) said ‘he’s still in bed, he’s got a headache’.”

Not thinking much of it, the couple continued their holiday. But the next day, they began receiving frantic calls from family.

“He was going through a total horror, the poor guy,” Mr Klemich said.

“Gill’s mum called and said they were really worried. They said, ‘please get home quickly’.”

Mr Klemich remembered calling the hospital before making a mercy dash home to Adelaide.

“I was speaking to the woman looking after him, asking what’s going on,” he said.

“She said, ‘we’re terribly worried about him. He’s not responding to tests’.

“I said we were about to get on a 12-hour flight … she just said, ‘don’t miss the plane’.”

But by the time the couple made it home, Mr Klemich said it was clear they’d lost him.

“The doctors couldn’t say anything until we got there, but everyone knew,” he said.

“He was lying there on life support … We just gave him a hug.

“Then the issue of organ donation come up.”

Oren Klemich with a statue of his son Jack playing cricket at his Walkerville home. Picture: Tom Huntley

Mr Klemich said the family had a conversation about organ donation when Jack received his drivers’ licence only weeks earlier, so they knew his wishes.

“We were really lucky – he’d ticked the box. So five of his organs went to four recipients and he saved four lives.”

Mr Klemich said it gave “meaning” to Jack’s death.

“At the time, you’re grieving so heavily you don't think about it – or care about it,” he said.

“But about two weeks after he died we got this lovely letter from DonateLife in SA saying that his left kidney went there, his right kidney went there. His pancreas went there,

his liver went there.

“They don’t tell you who got them – they just give a very vague description of where they go.

“The letter finished, ‘they’re all incredibly grateful and they’re all doing well’.

“And you think, ‘Good. I’m glad we didn’t say no’.”

Mr Klemich said to become an organ donor, a person has to die in hospital from a horrific brain injury that kills them but leaves their organs in perfect working order.

This is only the case in about 1400 Australians deaths each year.

Although people can opt-in to the organ donor register, the final say to go through with the donation is left with the bereaved family.

“That’s respectful (but) because there’s so few (suitable donors) it is very important families say yes,” he said.

“When a person is registered, nine out of 10 families say yes. But when they’re not, only four of 10 families do.”

Jack “ticked the box” to become an organ donor when he got his SA driver’s licence.

His cousin Olivia Molly Rogers praised Mr Klemich’s “amazing” work encouraging organ donation. Picture: Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images for AFW

Mr Klemich urged all Australians to register to become organ donors.

“Through DonateLife, Gill and I wrote to Jack’s recipients a few years ago and his liver recipient wrote back,” he said.

“It was a lovely letter. He said, ‘your son sounded like he was a wonderful young man and part of him lives on in me’, which it does.

“That liver could have been buried. But it wasn’t. It saved this bloke’s life. He’s doing really well and that’s what this thing is all about.

“If anything can be achieved through Jack’s death, it’s this.”

Rogers praised Mr Klemich’s “amazing” work in the space.

“Grief can tear people apart but you’ve directed yours in a really positive way,” she told her uncle.

“Jack lives on through what you’re doing”

To join the donor register, go to donatelife.gov.au