Transplant a breath of fresh air for family life

IT’S the little things in life than make Eric Myers thankful for his lung transplant four years ago.

The Claremont grandfather, 63, had the transplant after he was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2012, a disease in which scar tissue builds up in the walls of the lungs.

But now Mr Myers is able to appreciate life again, including travelling with his wife Christine and spending time with family.

Mr Myers is urging Tasmanians to contribute to DonateLife Week this week by joining the Australian Organ Donor Register.

About 1400 Australians are on waiting lists for a lifesaving transplant, but two out of three people nationwide are not yet on the register.

After being diagnosed, Mr Myers deteriorated rapidly in the first six months, with his life expectancy just two years. But now, his life has changed. “The main thing for me now is family. I have four grandkids and we look after them on a regular basis,” he said.

“We go travelling, we have relatives overseas ... in Norway and the UK. The main thing I have learnt is to not take life too seriously.”

Mr Myers’ sister Wendy Smith also had a lung transplant in 2006 for pulmonary fibrosis — a one in seven million chance.

Health Minister Michael Ferguson said Tasmania had the second highest rate of organ donor registration in the country at 47 per cent.