Organ donor gives Drouin resident a second chance

Only 14 months after a liver transplant, Drouin resident Kevin Wright is certainly living life to the fullest.

Kevin filled 2019 with precious family memories including a joint 60th birthday celebration with wife Jenny, cutting the centenary cake at his beloved football club and spending time with his eight grandchildren.

And, a year after walking youngest daughter Bek Hawkes down the aisle just weeks after his transplant surgery, Kevin is cuddling the latest additions to his family, Bek’s nine-week-old twins Tobias and Matilda.

All this was made possible by an organ donor who granted the gravely ill Kevin a new liver.

Having inspired many family and friends to join the Australian Organ Donor Register, Kevin is sharing his story with the wider community in the hope of others registering their wishes.

DonateLife reports less than one in five Victorian adults have formally recorded their decision around organ donation – the lowest of almost every state in Australia.

Kevin said it wasn’t just adults waiting for organ donations but children as well.

“There are children on the liver transplant list. That’s the most important thing for me. I would have given my liver up if it could have saved a child,” he said.

The Wright family know little about the donor who saved Kevin’s life in November 2018.

Jenny said they recently faced the difficult task of writing a letter to the donor’s family knowing Kevin’s gift came at the expense of their loved one.

“There are no words to thank someone,” said Jenny.

Kevin had suffered from liver disease for about four years before his health further declined in 2016. He underwent radiation and later chemotherapy to treat tumours on his liver.

After extensive testing, Kevin was urgently placed on the liver transplant list and just weeks later was undergoing surgery.

“I think leading up to the wedding, it was playing on our minds that he might not be able to come to the wedding let alone walk me down the aisle,” said daughter Bek who married on New Year’s Eve in 2018. “It was a big deal.”

However, Kevin was up to the task and even made his father of the bride speech.

“It just adds to that message, it makes such a difference to people’s lives,” said Bek.

“Don’t take your organs to heaven, heaven knows we need them here,” added Jenny.

Although facing ups and downs, Kevin is getting stronger and healthier.

Health milestones are being celebrated by Jenny, their four children Liam, Emily, Jessica and Bek, and their eight grandchildren.

Looking ahead, Kevin aims to help out more around the house and hopefully get down to a few more footy games at his beloved Noble Park Football Club.

Having lived in Springvale South for 30 years before making a move to Drouin two years ago, the Wright name is synonymous with the football club.

Although injury cut his playing days short, Kevin has offered many years of service – including eight as president – and the oval is named in honour of his father.

DonateLife Victoria medical director Dr Rohit D’Costa said Victoria’s low registration figures were at odds with its very generous donation rates. In 2018, a record 529 lives were saved in Victoria – including Kevin’s – thanks to the generosity of 193 organ donors and their families.

Dr D’Costa, an intensive care specialist, says less than two per cent of people who die in hospital are medically suitable for organ donation.

“When organ donation is a possibility, the decision to donate organs and tissues – or not – is much easier for families when they know what their loved one wanted. In fact, we know grieving families get a lot of comfort from honouring their loved ones’ wishes.”

It takes less than a minute to join the Australian Organ Donor Register (or to check your registration) at donatelife.gov.au. All you need is your Medicare card.

Alternatively, register by calling 1800 777 203.