CatoCooper13
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Transplant survivor wants to spread word
Australia's first heart, lung and liver transplant recipient, Jason Grey, wants to spread the message about the value of organ donation.
Mr Grey, who received his new organs in a 15 hour operation at Brisbane's Prince Charles Hospital earlier this month, has been recovering well and been allowed out of bed.
Doctors have said they are confident 25-year-old Mr Grey will be able to go home in two weeks.
In an interview with Brisbane's Sunday Mail newspaper, Mr Grey said he believed he now had a duty to live his life to the fullest.
"I feel very lucky both to have come through the operation well and to be given the chance to lead a normal life," Mr Grey said.
He said it had been hard to deal with the knowledge that the operation which gave him the chance of a normal life would mean a loss to another family.
"To my donor family I say 'You have given me the gift of life, you are the most fantastic and generous people in the world'.
"I want to spread the message of the value of organ donation and the generosity of donor families."
Mr Grey had been on a waiting list for the landmark operation for 11 months until a donor became available.
Only one donor had been used to minimise the risk of organ rejection.
Last week, his mother Debbie said the most amazing thing about her son's recovery was just to see him breathe unaided.
"It's fantastic to watch him not have to struggle for breath - it's a dream come true," Mrs Grey said.
Mrs Grey moved with Jason and Mitchell from Sydney to Brisbane a year ago when Jason had been given less than two years to live.
©AAP 2003
Australia's first heart, lung and liver transplant recipient, Jason Grey, wants to spread the message about the value of organ donation.
Mr Grey, who received his new organs in a 15 hour operation at Brisbane's Prince Charles Hospital earlier this month, has been recovering well and been allowed out of bed.
Doctors have said they are confident 25-year-old Mr Grey will be able to go home in two weeks.
In an interview with Brisbane's Sunday Mail newspaper, Mr Grey said he believed he now had a duty to live his life to the fullest.
"I feel very lucky both to have come through the operation well and to be given the chance to lead a normal life," Mr Grey said.
He said it had been hard to deal with the knowledge that the operation which gave him the chance of a normal life would mean a loss to another family.
"To my donor family I say 'You have given me the gift of life, you are the most fantastic and generous people in the world'.
"I want to spread the message of the value of organ donation and the generosity of donor families."
Mr Grey had been on a waiting list for the landmark operation for 11 months until a donor became available.
Only one donor had been used to minimise the risk of organ rejection.
Last week, his mother Debbie said the most amazing thing about her son's recovery was just to see him breathe unaided.
"It's fantastic to watch him not have to struggle for breath - it's a dream come true," Mrs Grey said.
Mrs Grey moved with Jason and Mitchell from Sydney to Brisbane a year ago when Jason had been given less than two years to live.
©AAP 2003
