Cats Dangerfield, Cameron back heart recipient's organ donor plea
Heart transplant recipient Aaron Habgood has joined forces with Geelong Cats stars to share how organ donation saved his life and gave him a future with three children.
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Geelong man Aaron Habgood was just a teenager when he had to have an emergency heart transplant.
Now aged 33, Mr Habgood is teaming up with Geelong Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield and stars Jeremy Cameron and Brad Close to encourage Victorians to register as organ donors.
Since Australia’s national organ donation program DonateLife started in 2009, 19,469 people have received lifesaving organ transplants from 6944 deceased organ donors.
Mr Habgood was just 16 when he went to the Royal Children’s Hospital to have his heart valve repaired.
He suffered a cardiac arrest during his recovery and needed an artificial heart to keep him alive while he was on the waitlist for a heart transplant.
A donor heart eventually came available and Mr Habgood received the transport.
Just six weeks after the major operation, Mr Habgood was back playing cricket, surfing and fishing.
“We need more Australians signed up as organ donors. One organ donor can save the lives of seven people,” Mr Habgood said.
“Sixteen years ago I received a life-saving heart transplant.
“I was on the waitlist for just shy of three months and now I live to tell the story.
“I’ve had an amazing life, with three beautiful kids and a partner at home. I have a great life on the water talking fishing every single day.”
It was a shared love of fishing that brought Mr Habgood and Dangerfield together.
The pair host Reel Adventures together on SEN, and Mr Habgood also hosts the Reds Fishing Adventures TV show.
Dangerfield said a personal connection prompted him to register as a donor.
His uncle died following a car accident in 1996, with his organs donated.
“My uncle died when he was 20, and he became an organ donor,” Dangerfield said.
“He saved the lives of others.
“It was obviously incredibly tragic, but there’s a few people walking around now if it weren’t for that accident.
“It’s a silver lining for some, so it’s a wonderful thing that organ donation can save people like my mate Aaron’s life.
“It’s such an important conversation to have.”
DonateLife’s awareness week runs until August 3.
To find out how to become an organ donor, visit donatelife.gov.au.
Originally published as Cats Dangerfield, Cameron back heart recipient's organ donor plea
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