Asanka Silva will compete at the World Transplant Games 2023 for Australia

An Attwood dad has urged for more organ donations after his life was saved by a transplant. See the details here.

Asanka Silva with wife Chelsea and daughters Chelsea, Ava and Isobel. Picture: Adam Daunt

An Attwood father-of-three has revealed how a transplant has given him a new lease on life ahead of the World Transplant Games.

Asanka Silva was like any other 22-year-old keeping fit with running and martial arts — it changed when he was diagnosed with end stage kidney disease.

Mr Silva, now 44, has battled the disease for the best part of two decades as it impacted his life. From having to soak potatoes for hours due to their potassium to blacking out at the end of runs due to lower kidney function, the disease has changed his life.

“When I was first diagnosed it hit me pretty hard, it was about 12 months after my mum got diagnosed with cancer too but I lived my life more or less the same for the first 15 years,” he said.

“It was when the kidney function dropped, it affects your whole body.

“The last six to 12 months before the transplant, my body was just wrecked I used to run half-marathons … but then at the end of 5km I would blackout.”

Asanka Silva will represent Australia in the World Transplant Games. Picture: Adam Daunt

Mr Silva – alongside wife Christie – always knew he would have to get a new kidney at some point and as his kidney function declined, the decision was made in 2020 to have a transplant.

Without a new kidney, there was a significant chance Mr Silva would not make it to see his daughters’ graduation or wedding and a possibility they may not have a dad at all in a few years.

The Silvas had a lot on their plate with three children under 10 at the time, Mr Silva’s mother Dammi was battling breast cancer and the Covid pandemic was raging.

After struggling to find a match, Mr Silva’s dad Chandra was deemed a good fit.

“There is a bond (with him) that since the transplant I can’t really put into words, I can’t describe it,” he said.

“I suppose my body is ticking because of him … effectively my dad is keeping me alive and will continue to keep me alive.”

While Covid conditions sped up the time frame for Mr Silva’s transplant with the help of the Austin Hospital — from the usual 18 months to seven — the challenge had only just started.

After initially looking strong after the operation, Mr Silva was overcome with sepsis days later which “wrecked” his body.

“My body went into a sweat and I just had to close my eyes so I was saying goodbye to Christie and the kids,” he said.

“I knew in my head there was a one per cent chance that I was going to wake up the next day.”

Ms Silva added: “He couldn’t even talk to me, he was just laying there with his eyes shut and I could just hold his hand and that was a really horrendous day.”

Mr Silva gradually recovered and eventually was back completing half-marathons and keeping up with his daughters Chelsea, Ava and Isobel.

The transplant has given him a new lease on life as he gets ready for the World Transplant Games in Perth next week. Alongside the athletics, he hopes he can open up conversations about organ donation with other families.

Only one in three people are registered organ donors but there are more than 1800 people on the waitlist needing a transplant and more than more than 14,000 people on dialysis that may need one.

“I’d start it’s important to start talking to your family or next of kin, even if you’re a fit 30-year-old because that conversation about consent (for organ donation) is the most critical thing,” he said.

“I get to celebrate the life I continue to live because of the sacrifices living and non-living donors make.”

“It means the world to me, it means the absolute world to me.”