Unite 4 Life Organ Donation: Jack Klemich’s family urges donor registration

In the moments after losing his son to meningococcal, a grieving dad knew he must honour Jack’s choice to be an organ donor and now he’s urging others to sign up.

My son, Jack, passed away from Meningococcal Disease in 2009.

Despite the wonderful efforts of the emergency department at the RAH, he could not be saved.

Jack played football for his school on Saturday and woke up with a headache on Sunday morning. Later that day he was rushed to the RAH and put on life support, but tragically was pronounced brain dead on Monday.

The question was then asked whether, as parents, would we consent to donating Jack’s organs to save the lives of other Australians around the country.

Jack was a registered organ donor, and he had had a discussion with his mother at the point he had registered.

In Australia, the family of their loved one will always be asked to make the final decision on donation.

Oren Klemich said deciding to donate his son’s organs was an easy one. Picture: File

Jack’s organs went on to save four people’s lives. Picture: Tom Huntley

We knew his wishes, so the organ donation specialists got to work.

By registering, Jack made our decision easy.

The likely organ recipient is usually the person on top of the list, regardless of location. It is someone who is gravely ill, who will die without a new heart, liver, pancreas, kidney or lungs. The organs must also be a match in blood type and size.

After the medical professionals have chosen the most suitable recipients, the organs are flown to hospitals around the country to give a fortunate Australian a life saving donation.

Most of Jack’s organs were sent across the border, and our family is proud of the fact he saved the lives of four others. After 16 years, three are still alive today.

We could have buried Jack with his superbly healthy organs, but we fulfilled his wish to donate.

Our family still grieves losing our beautiful son, but it’s lovely to know his life saving donation has saved four other families from the grief we suffered.

Organ donation is a good thing.

Please register today, and speak to your family.

There’s no point in burying perfectly heathy organs, whilst other Australians are needing urgent help, and dying on waiting lists.

To donate or enquire, please visit: www.donatelife.gov.au

Oren Klemich in an Adelaide father and prominent real estate agent.

Originally published as Unite 4 Life Organ Donation: Jack Klemich’s family urges donor registration