Transplant recipient calls on others to give the gift of life

Nick Farley received a kidney transplant 24 years ago and is now encouraging others to join him as “a card carrying registered donor”.

Nick Farley of Nundah received a kidney transplant in 1995.

NICK Farley received a kidney transplant 24 years ago and is now encouraging others to join him as “a card carrying registered donor”.

Mr Farley, of Nundah, has spoken out as part of DonateLife Week, from July 28 to August 4.

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“The transplant has enabled me to live a normal, healthy and active life for 24 years,” he said.

“I’ve travelled, I met my wonderful wife and overall I’ve had a happy and fulfilled life as a result of the transplant.”

Nick Farley of Nundah is using DonateLife Week to encourage people to register as organ donors.

Mr Farley believes he no longer has IgA nephropathy (Berger’s disease), the reason he needed the transplant.

IgA nephropathy is a kidney disease caused by a build-up of immunoglobulin A in the kidneys, resulting in local inflammation and eventually can lead to kidney failure.

“I would like to say a very heartfelt and eternal thank you to my donor family for giving me a second innings in life,” Mr Farley said.

“I would encourage anyone thinking about registering to be an organ donor to do it.

“It really is the most incredible gift you can give and the ultimate legacy you could leave behind.

“I’m a card carrying registered donor and wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Last year, 1544 Australian lives were transformed by 554 organ donors whose families agreed to donation at the time of their loved one’s death.

Mr Farley has a quirky story about his transplant.

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He had booked a holiday in a remote area when he was put on the waiting list.

When he arrived at his destination he realised there was no phone reception but wasn’t too worried as he didn’t think there was any real chance he’d get “the call” while away.

But his mum went to his house to do some ironing and picked up a phone call, which was “the call”.

With a bit of fast thinking, she got hold of the police station in the town where her son was holidaying, who sent out a team to find him.

Mr Farley was supposed to be out on a boat, but made a last-minute decision to stop for lunch on the way.

After a bit of a surreal conversation, he jumped in the police car and was taken to the local airfield for a flight to Melbourne.

An avid sportsman and former cricket player, Mr Farley is currently preparing for the World Transplant Games in England from August 17-23, where he hopes to bring home another medal for cricket ball throwing.

In Sweden in 2011 he won bronze in the event, with a throw of just under 60m.

Mr Farley said going to the Games was more about raising awareness than trying to be an elite athlete.

DonateLife Qld State Agency Manager Tina Coco. Photo David Kelly

DonateLife Qld State Agency Manager Tina Coco said registering your decision to donate organs and tissue made a real difference.

“We know that when families are asked to donate their loved one’s organs or tissue, that nine out of 10 will say yes if their loved one is registered, and they have discussed donation,” Ms Coco said.

“But that drops to five in 10 if they aren’t registered and haven’t spoken about it.”

Ms Coco said this month’s DonateLife Week campaign was urging all Queenslanders to ask their partner, siblings, parents or workmates if they’ve made their donation decision.

Last year’s campaign saw a 21 per cent increase in new registrations in the Brisbane area, but Ms Coco said she hoped to see an even higher increase this year.

“Around 28 per cent of the Brisbane population is registered, but we could easily double that rate if everyone who is registered encouraged just one more person to register,” she said.

There are 1551 people waiting for a transplant (statistics as of April 1):

■ 1098 waiting for a kidney;

■ 90 waiting for a heart;

■ 149 waiting for a liver;

■ 116 waiting for lungs; and

■ 78 waiting for a pancreas.

For information about becoming a registered donor, visit donatelife.gov.au