By Danielle Kutchel
Mamdouh Youssef knows all too well how life-changing organ donations can be.
The Cranbourne resident was the recipient of a liver transplant in 2012. The gift has allowed him to move forward in life, with a new career and a daughter.
In 2011, he became life-threateningly sick and ended up in a coma in Dandenong Hospital. Specialists told him his liver was no longer functioning and he was moved to the Austin, where he waited until a donor became available.
Mamdouh describes the donated liver as “a gift from God”.
“It means a lot – it means life for my family, my daughter, who came two years after the transplant.”
Cranbourne is leading the way in organ donation in Victoria.
Data provided by DonateLife Victoria shows that postcode 3977 had more people register on the Australian Organ Donor Register in 2018 than any other postcode in Victoria
A total of 769 Cranbourne residents recorded their intention to become organ and tissue donors last year.
DonateLife Victoria State Medical Director Dr Rohit D’Costa thanked the residents of Cranbourne for joining the Australian Organ Donor Register.
“This is a fantastic effort by the residents of Cranbourne, and I encourage adults across Victoria to follow their lead,” Dr D’Costa said.
“Registering your decision about organ and tissue donation – and talking to your family – is important as it leaves no doubt about your wishes, should the worst happen. Whether your decision about organ donation is a ‘yes’ or ‘no’, it’s important that you make it known.”
There are currently 1551 Australians waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.
DonateLife Week runs from 28 July to 4 August, and the Rotary Club of Cranbourne has joined to call to encourage residents to sign up to be an organ donor.
Rotary is asking people to find their ‘plus one’, a colleague, neighbour, teammate or other relatives who can be encouraged to register to be an organ and tissue donor too.
“Organ and tissue donation is the ultimate gift. You can save and improve the lives of many people as an organ and tissue donor,” said Garry Luxford, President of the Rotary Club of Cranbourne.
Five years on from his transplant, Mr Youssef is loving life with his wife and daughter, a new house and a new job as a bus driver.
He wishes he could know the name of his organ donor so he could lay a flower on his grave to say thankyou.
While he himself is unable to donate organs or even blood, to return the favour, Mr Youssef’s wife has since signed up to become a donor.
“She knows the experience and how much it means,” he said.
“It gives life for other people when they need it.”
