Celebrating the gift of life

Rob Mihalic and Dr Bruce Orsatti might not have met before, but they share a common experience.

Robert Mihalic and Dr Bruce Orsatti are competing in the Transplant Games this September. Picture: Carmela Roche

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Rob Mihalic and Dr Bruce Orsatti might not have met before, but they share a common experience.

Neither would be standing here today if it wasn’t for lifesaving transplant surgeries, and they certainly wouldn’t be competing in this year’s Australian Transplant Games.

The games begin on September 24 and will draw 1500 athletes from Australia and overseas, who have been touched by organ and tissue donation, to Western Sydney.

Padstow Heights resident Mr Mihalic was given an emergency liver transplant in 2011, after suffering from primary sclerosing cholangitis.

“I would have died without the transplant, I wouldn’t be here,” he said.

The 42-year-old is competing at the games in tennis singles and soccer, but said his participation is more about connecting with other people who’ve had a similar experience.

“You get to catch up and meet people like Bruce who have been in a similar situation,” he said.

“Not everyone has had a transplant ... and they’ve all got their own stories.”

With a more “competitive streak,” Picnic Point athlete Dr Orsatti said he will be gunning for gold this month.

“I’m not there to make up numbers, I’m there to win,” he said.

“I mean if I don’t win medals, it doesn’t matter, but I want to try.”

The 73-year-old GP, who worked in Revesby for 43 years and later in Bankstown, is competing in a 30km cycling event, tennis doubles and a 3km walk.

He competed in the Transplant Games in 2012 and took away silver medals in all his events.

After being on kidney dialysis for six months, Dr Orsatti’s sister flew from America to donate one of her kidneys for his transplant in 2011.

While neither Dr Orsatti nor Mr Mihalic had horror stories of long waiting periods for organs, they both wanted to raise awareness about organ donation.

Australia is currently ranked 22nd in the world and earlier this year, the organ donation rate sat at 16.9 donors per million population.

“A lot of people are unaware that you can live a normal life with one kidney,” Dr Orsatti said.

“They should consider donating one of their kidneys to a family member, relative or even a complete stranger.”

The games are held every two years and will this year be hosted by both Penrith International Sports Centre and Blacktown International Sports Park.

Details: Visit australiantransplantgames.com or call the Transplant Australia office on 1800 827 757.