PUMP THE DONATIONS
Long-term heart transplant recipient puts out call
ARTHUR Hardy’s heart stopped beating seven times before he had the heart transplant that ultimately saved his life.
The fit and healthy Toowoomba man was at work 27 years ago when he collapsed and was rushed to hospital.
Now, 82, Mr Hardy is thanking donors who have made a difference to people just like him and is encouraging more people to donate.
Donors, recipients and their families are invited to a remembrance service on Sunday.
AT 82, Arthur Hardy reckons his heart is the best part of his body - but it’s not his first one.
Mr Hardy was at work 27 years ago, as a mechanic changing a tyre on a trailer, when his heart suddenly stopped and he collapsed.
The previously fit and healthy Toowoomba man was rushed to Toowoomba Hospital where he was “kick started” three times.
He spent about a month there before being taken to The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane where his heart stopped another four times.
There was no choice but for Mr Hardy to have a heart transplant on July 6, 1991, and he said it had made a huge difference to his life.
“It made a big difference because I was out of bed three days after and having a shower on my own. Nine days later I was home,” he said.
Even more amazingly, the heart that doctors could guarantee to last about 10 years is still beating strong with Mr Hardy able to watch his three children and three grand-children grow up.
Mr Hardy will share his story at the Donate Life Remembrance Service at Toowoomba Hospital on Sunday for recipients, donors and their families.
“I just want to let the donors know that I thank them very much for the transplant,” he said.
“I don’t know anything about them (his donor) at all.
“I would like to see one of the family just to say his heart is still going, or her heart. It’s been perfect. It’s probably the best part of my body at my age.”
Intensive Care Unit nurse Elizabeth Hill said the service was something held throughout Queensland and was a cel- ebration of the wonderful effort donor families made.
In her other role as a clinical nurse consultant for organ donation, Ms Hill assists families make the decision about organ donation, in what is a very tough and emotional time.
“Last year in Australian there were more than 500 organ donors throughout Australia. In Queensland 105 organ donors,” Ms Hill said.
“We have got about 1500 Australians on the waiting list at any one time and that list obviously varies from day to day so it would be good that we could offer everybody a transplant.
“But we do know that people do die waiting because not enough transplant organs are available.”
The remembrance service will be held at Toowoomba Hospital’s Unara conference centre at 2pm on Sunday. Go to donatelife.gov.au.