Organ and tissue donations Cairns: Sabrina Davies inspire First Nations communities to have discussion

A woman who was on dialysis for three years before receiving a kidney transplant is at the forefront of a campaign to inspire First Nations communities to talk about organ and tissue donation. FIND OUT MORE

A WOMAN who was on dialysis for three years from the age of 23 before receiving a kidney transplant is at the forefront of a campaign to inspire First Nations communities to talk about organ and tissue donation.

Sabrina Davies now 33 said she was on dialysis five times a week.

“It was tough and daunting because of the fact I was young at the time,” she said.

“But it was my survival mode. I needed to have dialysis.”

After the transplant Ms Davies was able to have her three-year-old son Sebastian.

Sabrina Davies with her three-year-old son Sebastian Davies. Picture: Andreas Nicola

“During that time my husband and I wanted a child but doubted we would be able to,” she said.

But because of the cultural stigma in the Indigenous community and the rates of organ donation she said it was important to have the conversation.

“As people in our community it’s about expressing how we are going to get the message across in the right way to save our own mob,” she said.

Cairns Health District Donation Specialist Nurse Loren Ginders said it was important to have the discussion.

“Unfortunately, kidney failure disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and dialysis care is one of their main reasons for needing hospital care,” she said.

To register as an organ and tissue donor go to donatelife.gov.au

Originally published as Organ and tissue donations Cairns: Sabrina Davies inspire First Nations communities to have discussion