Chris Blackham-Davison: Palmerston teacher awaits miracle after donated kidney failed

The Northern Territory continues to hold the dubious distinction of having some of the lowest rates of organ donation in Australia. This Palmerston teacher says he’s been told there is a five-year waiting list.

A Palmerston teacher who suffers chronic renal failure is awaiting a second miracle, after the donated kidney he received 24 years ago failed.

Chris Blackham-Davison, 55, a Woodroffe Primary School teacher, was first diagnosed with the condition at age 16.

In 1998, he was placed on dialysis, before receiving a kidney transplant in February 2000.

That transplant, he said, gave him a renewed quality of life – until April when it failed.

Mr Blackham-Davison has now returned to the renal clinic and the dreaded donor waiting list.

“I am waiting for a transplant but I have been told it is a five-year wait,” he said.

“It is not easy being on dialysis as dialysing takes so much of your time – I had to cut down my working time from full-time to part-time.

“It restricts your ability to go out and enjoy life.

Woodroffe Primary School teacher Chris Blackham-Davison, who suffers chronic renal failure, alongside hearing dog Frodo. Picture: Facebook

“Normally I love travelling and camping but I have had to cut it back as dialysis takes over my life and restricts me from enjoying life as I used to do.”

Mr Blackham-Davison said he is now undergoing training in order to be able to perform dialysis at home more frequently but for a shorter duration, which would allow him to return to work full-time.

But the only thing that will return his life to the halcyon days of post-2000 is a new kidney.

“Having a transplant such as the last one gave me 24 years without having to go on dialysis and I could enjoy my life to the fullest,” Mr Blackham-Davison said.

Woodroffe Primary School teacher Chris Blackham-Davison, who suffers chronic renal failure, alongside hearing dog Frodo. Picture: Facebook

With the 13th edition of DonateLife Week in full swing, the advocacy body is calling on Territorians to register as organ donors, with the jurisdiction holding the dubious honour of having the fewest per-capita registrants in Australia, alongside the ACT.

Just 16 per cent of Territorians are registered as organ donors.

And the families of deceased Territorians deemed eligible to donate organs (just 1–2 per cent of deaths are eligible) gave consent for this to happen only 25 per cent of the time.

According to DonateLife NT director Lee Wood, the low consent rates are connected to low registrations.

“When we speak to families, it’s so much easier if they know what their loved one wanted,” “Eight out of 10 families say yes if they know what their loved one wanted.”

“Nine out of 10 people say they support organ donation, but unfortunately people don’t take the time to register as a donor and talk to their family about it.

“One person a week in Australia dies while waiting for an organ.”

As Mr Blackham-Davis kills endless hours waiting for the dialysis machine to cleanse his blood, his hearing dog Frodo his only company, one thought above all turns again and again through his mind.

“I try and look at the possibility of a transplant that will one day come as it will be so much better,” he said.

Donate Life week 2024 kicks off in Alice Springs

July 30: With more than 1200 Territorians registering as organ and tissue donors last year, a campaign is again under way to get more people to donate – with one kidney recipient sharing how donation changed her life.

Now in its 13th year, DonateLife week is back on, running from July 28 to August 4, and this year DonateLife NT has also launched a video designed, written, and narrated by Aboriginal Liaison Officers from Alice Springs Hospital.

Funded through the Australian Organ and Tissue Authority Community Awareness Grant, the five-minute video – titled ‘giving life’ – seeks to educate First Nations Australians around organ donation.

Purple House's Junitta Richards, kidney recipient Selina Bob and, Purple House employee and live donor kidney recipient Nicki Scholes-Robertson.

The video was launched at Alice Springs Hospital, Monday July 29, with ‘giving life’ video narrator Selena Bob – also a kidney transplant recipient – saying the video helps keep people informed and understand their options more.

“We need to have these conversations about organ and tissue donation. It helps our people be informed about their health and their bodies and they can understand their options more,” she said.

“I felt excited to be getting a kidney. I was happy when we measured our blood, and I found the right match for me.

“Before it was hard when I was on dialysis, but it is helping our blood to be clean and strong.

“I would try hard to never miss renal, we do feel better after we have dialysis and it always makes me feel happy. I loved speaking to other families while we were in renal and I even spent time talking to nurses to make them happy too.

“I thank my donor so much because you have helped me a lot – you have helped me regain my life. I am truly and forever grateful.”

DonateLife NT medical director Dr Paul Goldrick said the team worked to try and save the lives of Australians through organ and tissue donation.

“DonateLife Week is an important reminder for all of us who support donation to register and talk to your family,” he said.

“One organ donor can save the lives of up to 7 people and change the lives of many more through eye and tissue donation.”

DonateLife NT donation specialist nurse Teagan Nalder encouraged everyone to sign up.

“It only takes one minute to register as an organ and tissue donor at donatelife.gov.au or with three taps on your Express Plus Medicare app.

“Don’t forget to tell your family you want to be a donor – someone’s life may depend on it.”

Originally published as Chris Blackham-Davison: Palmerston teacher awaits miracle after donated kidney failed