Climbing Kili in the name of organ and tissue donation

LITERALLY wearing her heart on her sleeve, Bronwyn Forbes Hardinge has ‘organ donor’ tattooed on her lower left arm and ‘do not resuscitate’ inked down her right arm – this is just a glimpse of how serious this lifestyle journalist for Caxton’s Get It for Highway, Berea and Durban North is about organ and tissue donation.

With August being Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month, Bronwyn booked her ticket on her birthday, July 31, to climb Africa’s highest mountain to bring more awareness to people registering as organ and tissue donors in KZN and South Africa.

Being a journalist with the Caxton Stable for 21 odd years, Bronwyn has written down names, taken photos and recorded stories of hundreds of local people. We turn the tables to tell you more about her altruism and her #getme2kili campaign, which involves the local organ and tissue donor awareness group, Hero 777, which is affiliated with the National Organ Donor Foundation (ODF).

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She says that the facts around tissue and organ donation are very blurred, and until a person is in the situation where their loved one is in need of a vital organ transplant, the thought of becoming an organ and tissue donor probably would never cross their mind.

“My whole life, I have always wanted to make a difference. Ever since the pastor at our primary school (Margate) became a live donor by giving a kidney to someone who needed a second chance, I had a deep feeling that my journey was not going to be a simple one. I registered as an organ donor as soon as I was old enough to, and later in life, I registered as a bone marrow donor.

“When I got to know a kidney-recipient colleague and friend, and especially after my second life-saving bowel op, I felt even more strongly about giving the gift of life to someone else by kicking my needle phobia to the curb and donating blood regularly.

“I still do. As a healthy adult, I’ve offered to donate a kidney to three people – including my special friend – but we were sadly not a match.”

“I know my purpose is bigger than what I imagined, and being so passionate about organ and tissue donation is why I am hoping to climb Kilimanjaro, not just for me but to raise awareness for Hero 777, an NPO that was started because of Hillcrest’s heart- and bi-lateral lung-transplant recipient Matthew Legemaate’s bucket list which included registering at least 50 000 organ and tissue donors to help save as many lives as possible.”

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Bronwyn says that if she can reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and help Hero 777 register a few more organ and tissue donors along the way, what a beautiful thing that will be.

According to Hero 777 and the ODF, the most important fact that organ and tissue donors need to know is that they need to inform their family of their wishes to be an organ and tissue donor. In South Africa, the law requires that the donor’s next-of-kin must still grant permission for their loved one’s tissue, bone and corneas to be donated once they have passed – plus their organs if they are suffering brain-stem death in hospital.

To find answers to all your organ and tissue donation questions and to register as a donor, visit www.hero777.co.za or www.odf.org.za – did you know that one organ donor can save seven lives? Register now – it only takes a minute.

To support or fund Bronwyn to climb and summit Kilimanjaro, you can follow her on IG: @doodlingmountainsmyway or on FB: Bronwyn Forbes-Hardinge (Doodling Mountains).

Organ donation

For some people, the transplant of a recipient organ to replace their diseased one is their only chance of a fulfilling life. Donations are made to people with damaged organs that need to be replaced.

Tissue donation

Tissues can be used to treat many life-threatening conditions.

There are two types of donations

Living – living donors can give a kidney or part of their liver (which grows back) to a family member.

Deceased – this is when a family donates their brain-stem-dead family member’s organs for transplantation to help save up to seven people’s lives and improve up to 50 more.

What can I donate?

You can donate seven organs in South Africa:

Heart
Both lungs
Liver
Both kidneys
Pancreas

You can also donate your tissue, which includes skin, bone, heart valves and your corneas.

Source: Hero 777

Other donations you could do:

Blood and platelet donations: Contact the SANBS (South African National Blood Service) at www.sanbs.org.za to find out more and where you can find your nearest centre.

Bone Marrow Donations: contact the Sunflower Fund at www.sunflowerfund.org.za to find out more and where you can find your nearest centre.

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