OSKAR SEES THE DONOR LOVE
A SOUTHPORT mum is urging Gold Coasters to register as an organ and tissue donor after her son was the beneficiary of eye tissue that saved him going blind in both eyes.
Melissa Eckersley’s son Oskar was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma when he was six months of age. The condition causes irreversible damage to the optic nerve and vision loss.
Oskar’s left eye is now classed as legally blind, but the tissue donations have allowed the now 11-year-old to keep what sight he had left in his diseased eye.
“Using donor eye tissue brings a plethora of emotions as a parent. You always think of the donor and their loved ones, it’s a wonderful gift that we are forever grateful for,” she said.
“With each donation we have sent the donor family a card via DonateLife to ex
press our sympathy and gratitude.
“I want the families to know that their loved one’s selfless decision has had such a profound impact on my son and our family’s lives.”
While nine in 10 Australians support donation, only one in three are registered, and there’s 1800 people on the waitlist for an organ donation.
Last year 1270 lives were saved through an organ transplant thanks to 463 deceased organ donors and their families. To register as a donor visit donatelife.gov.au.