Neil celebrates a hearty kidney three decades on

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Neil celebrates a hearty kidney three decades on
By Lisa Tisdell Jan. 14, 2013, 4 a.m.

LIFTING awareness about organ donation was at the heart of an anniversary party with a twist on Saturday.

About 60 people gathered at Port Macquarie Golf Club to mark the 30th anniversary of retiree Neil Tubb’s kidney transplant.

The party had a serious side too as Mr Tubb spoke about organ donation.

“If I can achieve two people out of those 60 [at the party] to let their families know they are prepared to donate, I think I will have achieved a fair bit,” Mr Tubb said.

The party – which drew people from as far as Auckland, Inverell, Walcha and Woolgoolga – came three decades after Mr Tubb’s life changing kidney transplant.

Eleven years after his polycystic kidney disease diagnosis, deteriorating health forced Mr Tubb onto dialysis in 1981.

The kidney transplant came on January 8, 1983 at Melbourne’s Austin Hospital.

“It gave me back my freedom,” the 63-year-old said about the kidney transplant.

“We are basically living a normal life.”

The then cleaner took six months off work to recuperate after the operation and met his wife Lynne the following year.

Mr Tubb retrained as a nurse to give something back to others after his experience in the health system.

The Tacking Point Lions Club member approached the anniversary party as a chance to raise people’s awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation.

“I would ask people to please talk to their families and let their wishes be known,” Mr Tubb said.

“We definitely don’t have enough organ donors.

“The waiting list is too long.”

About 1600 people are on Australian organ transplant waiting lists.

The Australian Organ Donor Register is the official national register for people to record their decision.

n TO JOIN the register, go to www.medicare.gov.au or www.donorregister.gov.au, call 1800 777 203 or visit any Medicare office. One organ and tissue donor can transform the lives of 10 or more.

http://www.portnews.com.au/story/1232055/neil-celebrates-a-hearty-kidney-three-decades-on/?cs=257