HAND IN HAND: Shelley Delaney, whose son Kaden’s organs were donated after his death, talks about organ donation with Catherine Drayton who has received three kidneys since the age of six. Photo: STEVE GOSCH 0225sgdonor1
CATHERINE Drayton knows the importance of organ donation, after undergoing three kidney transplants since she was six.
During DonateLife Week she met up with Shelley Delaney at Orange hospital, where Ellie McCann from the NSW Organ and Tissue Authority helped them promote the message of organ and tissue donation.
Mrs Delaney and her husband Greg made the decision to donate several of their son Kaden’s organs after he died in a car accident.
Ms Drayton said that decision had been life changing for the recipients.
Ms Drayton’s kidney transplants were the result of her contracting a virulent strain of the E-Coli virus, which caused her kidneys to stop functioning.
She received her first kidney transplant as a little girl, however, found herself back in surgery 10 days later when a blood clot caused complications.
“My father then stepped in and donated one of his kidneys and it served me well for 16 years,” she said.
Last year Ms Drayton received her third kidney and will head to Westmead next week for her 12-month post-operative check-up.
She encourages every family to discuss organ donation.
“I know everyone in my family intends to be a donor,” she said.
Ms McCann would like everyone in the Western NSW Local Health District to think about becoming a doner.
“The rarity of the possibility of organ donation for transplantation is why every Australian needs to ensure their family members know their donation wishes so that we can optimise every opportunity for Australians to have access to life-transforming transplants,” she said.
For more information visit www.donatelife.gov.au.
