Picture: SANDRA MORELLO
FOR Mount Gambier resident Kimberley Telford, an “amazing” gift from a stranger has given her a second chance at life.
Now recovering from a pioneering dual organ transplant, Ms Telford has called for people to consider becoming a potential organ donor.
While it was often a confronting and difficult conversation for families, she said seriously ill people were left floundering on lengthy waiting lists for lifesaving transplants.
Ms Telford has spoken out ahead of a special screening of Dying to Live at the Oatmill Cinema tomorrow night.
The documentary aims to promote awareness to bolster organ and tissue donations.
The film will be followed by a specialist question and answer panel, which will include leading kidney transplant surgeon Professor Toby Coates.
Other panellists will include Country Health SA regional director Ngaire Buchanan, renal and chemotherapy nurse unit manager Nebu Mathew as well as Ms Telford.
Speaking to The Border Watch in the lead up to the event, Ms Telford said her double organ transplant had given a chance at a better life.
Ms Telford was the first recipient in South Australia to undergo a kidney and pancreas transplant after suffering from type one diabetes for 16 years.
While her journey has been a roller-coaster of emotions, she is forever grateful for the enormous generosity of the donor.
Following her surgery, the community advocate said she wanted to “give back” and raise awareness of organ donation.
“My transplant has given me a whole new life, I am not a diabetic any more and definitely my health is a lot better,” Ms Telford said.
“I am very grateful to my donor, they are forever my hero.
“For the family to agree to it in such a time of grief is just amazing. I hope they get something out of it, they have helped others,” the transplant recipient said.
Ms Telford revealed the medical team had to fight for some time to undertake the surgery at the new Royal Adelaide Hospital.
“I hope I am proof it was worth it,” she said.
Meanwhile, Danielle Horton – who is living with renal failure – also threw her support about the need to raise awareness.
With her kidney function at just 11pc, Ms Horton will likely need a kidney transplant in the future.
“The big thing is that people should talk to their family about organ donation about whether they do or do not want to donate – we are not here to push you into donating,” Ms Horton explained.
“But it is about that conversation and working out what you really want to do – you could save someone’s life.”
In fact, she said a single donor could potentially help up to seven people.
Ms Horton said there were people our community who needed transplants.
“There are people who do not look sick, but they are sick – and without a transplant they are not going to be here,” she said.
People can purchase tickets at tickets.demand.film/event/6706 or at the Oatmill Cinema.
The film has been scheduled for 6.30pm.
