Last year, 184 New Zealanders received lifesaving heart, lung, kidney, liver or pancreas transplants. Many more received donated tissue, such as heart valves, eye tissue and skin. Even after 20 years of working with potential donors and their whānau in intensive care and, more recently, with Organ Donation New Zealand – our national service for deceased organ and tissue donation – I am struck by the profound generosity and impact of these donations.
For the recipients of donated organs and tissue, that gratitude is something they live and breathe every day.
Although all transplant journeys are unique, they share some things in common. Recipients have had months or years of being severely unwell, often unable to lead an independent life. The call that tells them an organ is available is a memorable and life-changing moment.
For one recent recipient, new lungs have enabled a return to full-time work at a job she loves, and the delight of being a hands-on grandmother.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 02-08, 2023-Ausgabe von New Zealand Listener.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 02-08, 2023-Ausgabe von New Zealand Listener.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
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Spilt milk
Excess dietary calcium goes into toilets, not bones.
To the Max
The testosterone and torments of late adolescence are centre stage in this novel about finding your place in life.
A chemical killer
A new book outlines the life of a woman who may well have been New Zealand’s most prolific poisoner. What was it that led police to exhume the body of her husband from its watery grave?
Creating the WOW factor
Meg Williams, in charge of the biggest festival involving a bunch of people wearing wacky outfits, admits she's not very flamboyant in her own dressing.
Leaving it all on the park
After cancer treatment, Graeme Downes takes stock of a musical life leading The Verlaines and lecturing future generations of songwriters.
Wrong message
A UK journalist who came here to talk about Rwanda’s authoritarian regime found herself the victim of a social media hate campaign.
Busting a gut
IBD is escalating, seemingly thanks to the Western lifestyle, and New Zealand has one of the highest rates in the world.
The point of Peters
There's been much to admire about the NZ First leader's politics over the years, but where has it got him?
Don't call us ...
Finland's ingenuity galvanised the rapid global uptake of cellphones, so it's paradoxical the country's latest claim to fame should be the elevation of no-speakies to a new commercial opportunity.
He is here
In the week my brother died, there was a storm in the universe.
