Kidney transplant recipient shines light on organ donor month
Henk Goris, who was the recipient of a kidney transplant in 2015, speaks about how it has changed his life.
AUGUST is National Organ and Tissue Awareness Month and Durban resident Henk Goris is on a mission to spread the word on why organ donation is so important.
The 31-year-old, who was the recipient of a kidney transplant in 2015, says the transplant has changed his life.
“It is hard to put into words how it changed my life, and it is always emotional thinking about how my new kidney has given me my second chance. I’ve been restored to full health thanks to a kind donor. For any recipient, August in particular is a chance for us to say why organ and tissue donation is so important.
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“While it has given me a new perspective on life, I also feel people don’t realise what impact this has not only on the donor recipient but their families, too. Before 2015, I was on a dialysis machine three times a week for four hours at a time. I really didn’t hold out much hope, but when the call came through to say they’d found a match, it opened my world to new opportunities,” he said.
Those opportunities would materialise in Goris representing South Africa in cycling at two World Transplant Games (WTG) in 2017 and 2019 where he won one bronze and two silvers respectively.
Goris has now been chosen to represent South Africa once again at the WTG in Perth, Australia next year.
Also Read: Organisation shines light on living kidney donations
“While the number of patients waiting for transplants continues to increase, the serious shortage of potential donors remains a great concern,” explains Goris.
“Signing on to become an organ donor comes down to saving seven lives effectively. I would urge those interested to sign up and learn a little more about the Organ Donor Foundation (ODF). Their website is easy to navigate and you can learn what difference you could potentially make as an organ donor,” he said.
To find out more, visit www.odf.org.za.
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