Podcast Episode 51 - The life changing gift of organ donation
The life changing gift of organ donation
This episode is very personal to me and I would like to dedicate it to my beautiful friend Carol.
Without Carol, this podcast , Deadly Serious Conversations, would not exist. It was Carol who first suggested that I create it and with her encouragement she set everything up for me. In fact, she is also the reason I am a celebrant as she told me 17 years ago, that she had found the perfect job for me.
In the week between recording this episode and publishing it, my dear friend Carol died very unexpectedly.
Carol was a registered organ donor and through her incredible generosity, 5 people have been given the precious gift of life.
Her decision to become an organ donor was an extraordinary final act of kindness. But in many ways, it was also a reflection of the person Carol was throughout her life.
Carol was an incredible woman. She was funny, she loved travelling, she was always up for an adventure and she had the most generous spirit. So while losing her has been incredibly difficult, it was not a surprise that Carol had chosen to become an organ donor. It was simply another expression of the kindness and generosity that defined who she was.
As I sat with Carol in the ICU, I witnessed the incredible care and dedication of the wonderful ICU staff who looked after her. I would also like to acknowledge the extraordinary donation teams who work behind the scenes to make this gift of life possible.
Through their expertise, Carol’s generosity has given hope and a future to 5 people and their families.
I will miss her every day but I am so incredibly proud of her.
Introduction
For families waiting for an organ transplant, life can feel as though it's on hold. Hope and fear exist side by side and every day is filled with uncertainty as they wait for that phone call or the news that could change everything.
My guest today is Kristy Busuttil, mum to four beautiful children, including her son Harlen.
Harlen was born with a life-threatening liver condition. When it became clear that a liver transplant was his only chance of survival, Kristy and her family entered a world no parent ever imagines facing. For five long months, they lived in limbo, balancing round-the-clock hospital care with the realities of raising three other young children, all while waiting for the call that could save Harlen's life.
Today, Kristy joins me to share her family's journey…… the heartbreak, the uncertainty, the moments of hope and what life looks like after transplant. We will also talk about the extraordinary generosity of donor families and the life-changing impact one selfless decision can have on complete strangers, creating hope in the midst of unimaginable loss.
Kristy, thank you so much for joining me and for being willing to share your family's story.
