Adam and Glen – living kidney donor and recipient, QLD

Two men at an indoor swimming pool. One has a couple of medals around his neck.
It is hard to explain just how happy our family are to see Adam well and enjoying life.

Adam’s world was turned upside down in his late 30s when his kidney health rapidly declined. Diagnosed with stage 5 kidney failure, the avid surfer was unable to do even the simplest things due to his condition. 

It was at this point that Glen, Adam’s dad, stepped in and donated one of his kidneys to his son. 

Since his kidney transplant, Adam has gone from strength to strength, but the best highlight was becoming a father himself to 2 boys. He’s also a successful athlete – winning 6 medals at the World Transplant Games in 2023 – and runs his own kitchen cabinetry business on the Sunshine Coast. 

Glen has also thrived post-transplant. Glen is happily retired and enjoying life, taking his dog on plenty of walks, fishing, camping, and golfing, with minimal impact after surgery. 

‘It is hard to explain just how happy our family are to see Adam well and enjoying life, happily married with 2 amazing sons,’ says Glen. 

‘We will be forever grateful to the doctors and nurses that gave Adam a second chance at life.’ 

We want all Australians to talk about organ and tissue donation. If you want to be a donor, make sure you tell your family and friends.

Registering is easy and only takes one minute. All you need is your phone, Medicare card and one minute to register.

It doesn’t matter how old you are, your medical history, your lifestyle, what country you’re from or how healthy you are — you can still register as an organ and tissue donor.

The Organ and Tissue Authority acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders both past and present.

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