The Australian government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.
Born without a bile duct and sick from birth, Chris's survival in his early days seemed nearly impossible. But a miraculous gift from a stranger changed everything, propelling his life into the fast lane.
From as early as he could remember, an organ transplant was a constant in Chris's future. His infant years were marked by hospital appointments and surgeries, including a Kasai procedure at just 4 months old to directly join his liver and bowel.
‘I wasn't expected to survive the early days, weeks, months, or even years of my life,’ Chris recalls.
When Chris was 13 years old, his family finally received the call.
‘When they took out my liver, they said it wouldn’t last another 6 months. So, after my transplant and recovery, I carried on living. I never considered any other option. Here was an opportunity to live life, so I took it, and still try to do that every single day,’ says Chris.
Chris went on to achieve things that once seemed impossible. He has been travelling, starting and growing his own business, and working as an advanced driver coach all over Australia and New Zealand. He has even transitioned from racing Matchbox cars to driving Aussie Racing Cars at many Supercars events.
‘I am alive today because of my transplant, and I value that. I used to not be able to consider having a life after transplant, but my perspective has changed. I am very passionate about life and about people,’ Chris said.
‘Thank you to my donor and their family. In their hardest moment, they considered the lives of others. Each year, my family, friends, and I celebrate my transplant. But woven within the celebration is an acute awareness that for another family, the date marks a day of tragedy and loss.
‘Our hearts go out to that family, and though we’ve never met, I am grateful to them for the decision they made. I’ve now made it to 40 because of their selflessness.’
