DonateLife Week: TUH nurse Tess Thompson inspires after death
A beloved Townsville nurse whose final act of organ donation is continuing to inspire others ahead of DonateLife Week.
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A beloved Townsville nurse whose final act of organ donation is continuing to inspire others ahead of DonateLife Week.
Tess Thompson was a critical care nurse with 30 years’ experience specialising in intensive care and emergency units, with her last role being a critical care outreach nurse at Townsville University Hospital.
The woman, who lived and breathed her work as a nurse, passed away from a suspected heart attack in 2024.
“Everyone knew Tess,” friend and fellow TUH outreach nurse Tash Mastrippolito said.
“Her work was her life; she was so dedicated.”
Tess’s funeral was attended by more than 600 people, including ambulance crews and medical, allied health and operational staff she had worked with throughout her career.
Ms Mastrippolito said Ms Thompson touched the lives of many during her career but one of her biggest impacts was nurturing the growth and development of junior medical and nursing staff.
“She had a strong character and was very straightforward, deeply committed to patient advocacy and had this incredible ability to challenge you and support you at the same time,” she said.
“That’s why so many of us looked up to her.”
DonateLife Week runs from Sunday, July 27, to Sunday, August 3, and is a time to remember the individuals who gave the gift of life and raise awareness about the importance of encouraging people to talk about donations and registering their decisions.
Ms Mastrippolito said Ms Thompson was a passionate advocate for organ donation.
“It is special that on the most tragic day of a family’s life, they can feel some peace knowing that their loved one was able to help somebody else,” she said.
“Tess’s gift was one little glimmer of hope for all of us in the midst of losing her.”
DonateLife’s donation specialist nurse coordinator Meagan Baldwin said Ms Thompson was a shining example of how one person could make a lasting difference and “give others a second chance at life”.
She said that while four in five Australians supported organ donation, only one in three were registered.
“DonateLife Week is a time to change that, to have the conversation, to make the decision and to register.”
It takes one minute to register at donatelife.gov.au or through a Medicare account.
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Originally published as DonateLife Week: TUH nurse Tess Thompson inspires after death
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