Olivia Adorabella Catsoulis says everyday is precious as she waits for a kidney transplant

A young Gold Coast woman waiting for a kidney transplant for more than 10 years is desperately hoping for a rare match and life free from dialysis.

OLIVIA Adorabella Catsoulis wants nothing more than a life free from dialysis and her growing fear of death.

For 10 years the 23-year-old Merrimac woman has been waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant that would give her a chance to see her next few birthdays.

Olivia has been sick since she was five, when she was diagnosed with medullary cystic disease – an incurable, genetic condition that causes cysts and ultimately leads to kidney failure.

Olivia Adorabella Catsoulis suffers from Medullary Cystic Kidney Disease and is living every day like it is her last. Photo: Supplied.

Now, as the first transplant surgeries start up again after being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Olivia is desperately hoping for a rare match.

“I have been fighting for a long time and I dream every day how I would feel with a transplant,” she said.

“Imagine if I could study, maybe work and pursue my dream career as a filmmaker.

“I am praying for a transplant but COVID-19 has added extra time to the wait and the long-term effect on the number of viable organs is still unknown.

“It has been a really hard time.”

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Olivia Catsoulis dreams of pursuing a career as a filmmaker. Photo: Supplied.

Olivia has endured 17 operations, more than 2500 days in hospital, 589 blood tests, 13 years without a holiday, 10 years without a long weekend, 1651 dialysis treatments and three years without eating chocolate. She attended just five days of high school.

Those are just some of the trials and sacrifices she has endured in her quest to live.

Her mum, Jenevieve Dooley, can’t help but get emotional when speaking about her daughter’s life.

“I think no one realises how hard Olivia’s journey has been,” Ms Dooley said, her voice shaking.

“But her bright attitude has helped her handle her pain and illness.

“She is the bravest person you will ever meet. She is my inspiration.”

“I think no one realises how hard Olivia’s journey has been,” Olivia’s mum Jenevieve Dooley said. Photo: Supplied.

Olivia said dialysis was a painful and exhausting process.

But without it she would die.

“People tell me all the time that I look healthy and well but they don’t see me strapped to a dialysis chair losing days and years to this treatment to keep me alive,’’ she said.

Jenevieve Dooley (Olivia's mother) holding a normal cup (left) and Olivia holding the cup she has to use to slow her water intake down for her kidney to function properly. Picture: Jerad Williams

“They don’t see me struggle to get out of bed with a throbbing head and chronic fatigue.

“When I am desperate to escape my four walls and need an outing, I dread getting dirty looks for using my disabled parking permit.

Olivia is now an advocate for kidney health and organ donations in Australia. Photo: Supplied.

“My depression and anxiety really knock me down but I try to take advantage of my good days and enjoy them with a whole heart, make sure I live every day like it’s my last.”

Olivia is now dedicated to raising funds and awareness for Kidney Health Australia and The Big Red Kidney Bus. She would like all kidney patients to have access to mobile holiday dialysis one day.

The National Transplantation and Donation Rapid Response Taskforce is working on a staged start of transplantation surgeries, but the timeline is unknown.