Recipient of two kidney transplants gives back

Matty Hempstalk brought back his first medal after competing in Spain last year.

SUPPORTING OTHERS: Matty Hempstalk (second from left) has played sport his whole life and has represented Australia in the World Transplant Games five times. Picture: Contributed

MATTY Hempstalk received an unimaginable gift when he was 14 - a kidney transplant from his mother.

After moving from New Zealand to the Coast in 2002, the transplant began to fail and he received a second donation.

It has now been 13-and-a-half years since the Caloundra resident's last transplant.

Mr Hempstalk is a Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service consumer representative.

"I've always been involved as an advocate to make people aware of kidney disease," he said.

"I've been sick since the age of four and learned to be a self-manager of the disease.

"I wanted to help improve the system from the patient's perspective. Being in hospital and seeing how hard the staff have to work, I thought I could offer something as a patient.

"To talk about how the system affects someone like me and how the patient can help ease the workload."

Mr Hempstalk said he wanted to give back after being involved with hospitals his whole life.

"Without the care I wouldn't be here today," he said.

"Patients also need to take control of their own health, the system can only do so much and some responsibility needs to be taken on by patients too."

A constant in Mr Hempstalk's life was sport.

"Sport was my saviour from a young age," he said.

"It was the only time I felt like I wasn't sick. I was competing among others and was treated just like another child.

"For me, that was what kept me going, whether it was cricket, soccer, tennis or something else."

It comes as no surprise that Mr Hempstalk's passion for sport has lead him to represent Australia.

He has competed in the World Transplant Games five times and last year he travelled to Spain for the event.

He competed in kayaking and returned home with a medal.

"I teamed up with a friend and we pulled off bronze," he said.

"For me, there is no better way to honour my donor, medical staff at the hospital and promote the importance of organ and tissue donation than training and competing to the best of my ability and increasing my chances of staying healthier for longer.

"Last year was probably my last game, now it's about supporting others.

"It's been a tough journey at times - people think after a transplant it's smooth sailing but I've been given the gift of life by a donor I don't know.

"You can't take life for granted and you need to give back to people doing it tougher.

"My donor gave a gift to me and my family and it's about making the best of life. I'm grateful that I'm still here."

To learn more about becoming a consumer representative, phone [phone] or email [e-mail].