I am waiting for a transplant to have a normal life again.

I was born in Hong Kong and came to Australia in 1984.  I live at Westmead in Sydney.  My sister also lives in Sydney.

I have been a nurse since 1973 and a nurse at Westmead Hospital in Sydney for 25 years working in Radiology and previously in Midwifery.

I had to resign from my position at Westmead as my disease got so bad.

In 1993 I was diagnosed with Sjogrenâs Syndrome, an auto-immune disease characterised by dryness.  It has affected my whole body including my glands and organs.  As a result my kidney function has deteriorated.

Two years ago I was put on the organ transplant waiting list.  Every day since then I have had dialysis.  I do this every night at home.  There are many other people who have been waiting longer than me.  This is my life now, it revolves around dialysis.

I had to give up work because I have very low blood pressure in the mornings.

I would really like to have my kidney transplant so I can live a normal life again.

I want to encourage Chinese Australians to donate their organs and tissue as they can help save lives in our community.

Teresa