The Australian government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.
I was introduced to kidney disease at the age of 15 when my father died of it. Subsequently, 4 family members were diagnosed, with 2 of us fortunate enough to have had transplants. The day I was told I had kidney disease I drove around aimlessly thinking the sky had fallen.
Twenty odd years after being diagnosed I was told I needed dialysis. I was tired but nothing else was outwardly evident.
After 6 weeks training with a machine for peritoneal dialysis, I suggested to my husband that we go and book a trip so we had something to look forward to. I felt a pang as my machine went down the oversize chute at the airport but was happy to have a direct flight so it had to come with us.
Looking at the machine during those first weeks was very confronting as I realised that life was only possible with it. It was such a frightening thought that I blocked it out, then we humanised the machine by christening him ‘Charlie’.
Charlie developed a distinct personality. He would play up at times and I would say to my husband 'you'd better come, he wants your attention'. Sure enough, he then settled down and started properly! Charlie and I became very close as we spent 9 hours together every night.
Having a sense of humour helped enormously. After naming Charlie we decided the nurses were Charlie’s Angels. They were delighted and although there were 4 of them, they all wondered in turn which of the 3 they were! Their support and care was so outstanding that we entered them for a hospital award – and they won!
The call to go to hospital for my transplant came at 1am on a Saturday. I had retired from work 4 months earlier and was preparing for the transplant by thinking positively and exercising. On arrival at the hospital I even asked one of the doctors when I could start exercising again!
I have a very positive attitude – if you think you can, you will. Underlining everything is awareness that this is only possible because someone has given me this gift. There is a sense of accountability that never goes away.
I think about my donor and know the best I can do is eat healthily, exercise every day, drink plenty of water, keep appointments and take my tablets.
A Heart of Gold rose – red with a yellow centre – was planted to honour South Australia’s donors for 2013. That is how I view the donor families – you have hearts of gold to give this gift at such a time of grief. I am indebted to you for allowing me the chance to live a normal life again. Words can never express my gratitude.
