How SA leads the nation — and the world — in organ donations

David Glass is alive thanks to the incredible generosity of a family who donated a loved one’s heart, and his mother Cindy is urging others to think about doing the same.

South Australia leads the country in organ donation consent rates, with 50 donors in the past year giving life to 119 people.

Six-year-old David Glass, of Morphett Vale, is just one recipient whose life has turned a full circle – and is now an active child after being born at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital with complex heart problems.

His mum, Cindy, recalls being told that he would most likely die.

“He had five open-heart surgeries including two­ in two weeks, had sepsis and pneumonia and ended up on the transplant list,” she said.

David Glass, now 6 - before his heart transplant and after he had it. Picture: Supplied

David’s gift of life was a donated heart.

“After the transplant, David just blossomed. Now he runs and plays and swims and goes to school,” Ms Glass said.

“We are eternally grateful to the donor family and urge others to donate.”

Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade said the figures highlighted the generosity of SA families who had made the decision to donate their loved one’s organs.

“Organ donation is front-of-mind for many selfless South Australians and, as a result, our concentration is the highest in the nation at 73 per cent, compared to a national consent rate of 56 per cent,” he said.

“We are extremely grateful to all donor families for honouring the wishes of their loved ones, to help save others’ lives.”

DonateLife SA medical director Dr Stewart Moodie noted SA was the only state where individuals could register on the national Australian Organ Donor Registry with their driver’s licence.

David Glass with his three-year-old sister Bella on Monday. Picture: Mark Brake

DonateLife SA has collaborated with the state’s major metropolitan intensive care units to provide the SA End-of-Life Follow-up Service.

This ensures organ and tissue donation is considered for all end-of-life patients and bereaved families receive support to help make an informed decision.

“The service partners with ICUs to follow up families of patients who have died in ICUs,” said Dr Moodie, who also works as an intensive care specialist in the Royal Adelaide Hospital ICU.

“The follow-up helps us to improve our care – improved care around end-of-life results in more families likely to donate.

“Making the selfless decision to help others after death represents the best of our community and it is a privilege to care for these patients and their families in our intensive care units at such a difficult time.

“I encourage everyone to speak with their loved ones about organ donation and make their wishes known.”