Mathew - donor, VIC

Man in a light blue button up shirt and jeans, sitting on a green box.

Helen and Rusty were able to save lives through Mathew’s donation and want more families to know they can help too.

Mathew was the oldest of Rusty and Helen’s three children – a beloved son, uncle, and huge sports fan.

As a child, he was constantly engaged in whatever sport was in season. As Mathew grew up, health issues stopped him from playing. But he was a dedicated armchair observer of every game on TV.

His family are also big sport fans. Mum and dad Helen and Rusty had been working at the Australian Open in Melbourne when they got a terrible call: Mathew had suddenly died.

When Helen and Rusty were asked if they would consent to Mathew’s organs and tissue being donated, they were shocked by the question. They assumed organ donors had to be fit and healthy, and Mathew was neither.

‘I was proud!’ says Helen. ‘I was sad, but I was proud.’

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

Helen and Rusty were able to save lives through Mathew’s donation and want more families to know they can help too. Register now and talk about it with your family.