August, also known as ‘Orgust’ is recognised worldwide as Organ Donation Awareness Month.
Numerous campaigns are launched this month to raise awareness of the value of organ donation and to promote education about it.
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You can save many lives and leave a lasting legacy of hope by telling your family that you want to one day donate your organs.
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness has joined a number of organisations in urging people to donate their organs in order to save lives.
Over 659 adult and paediatric transplant surgeries, including heart, kidney, cornea, and liver transplants, have been carried out at Tygerberg Hospital, Groote Schuur Hospital, and Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital over a ten-year period.
According to IOL, Executive Head of Surgery at Tygerberg, Professor Elmin Steyn, has participated in over 1 000 transplants operations locally and internationally over 35 years.
‘The limiting factor is finding those precious ‘spare parts’ that are desperately needed. There were several recipients who have stayed in contact with me, and it has been heart-warming to keep track of their progress’, she said.
In November of last year, Kuilsriver resident Roscoe Jacobs gave his wife Nicole a kidney.
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The pair claimed that the transplant had altered their way of life and made them healthier.
It was found that Roscoe has Gilbert syndrome during the testing process, according to Roscoe.
‘I have cut sugar out of my diet. We now also watch what we eat and drink water regularly. We are also more active, and because I gave the kidney to my wife, we are accountable to each other and motivate each other.’
‘I always joke and say the reason why we got married is because we are a ‘match made in heaven’. We were a 98% tissue match.’ he added.
General surgeon at Groote Schuur, Dr Thinus du Toit, has participated in approximately 400 kidney transplants and 100 liver transplants.
He claimed that when faced with the difficulties patients deal with on a daily basis, one can not help but feel humbled by the chance to make a difference as a group.
‘Often, the patients who were in desperate need of a transplant, and those who have suffered complications from the procedure stay imprinted in our minds and drive us to understand more, do more and do it better.’
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Picture: jesse orrico /Unsplash
