Doctors gave Gindie cattle producer Johno Hammond the green light to return home to family for Christmas last year, after spending most of the past five years in Brisbane to receive not one, but two life-saving organ transplants.

This DonateLife Week (Sunday 28 July – Sunday 4 August 2024), we’re highlighting the extra burden on regional and remote patients who wait for transplant surgery, and encouraging all Australians to register as organ and tissue donors and be the reason someone like Johno gets a second chance at life.

“Being home again is like a breath of fresh air. I’ve missed my family, my home, and the warmth of the country.”

Life was not always like this for Johno – working hard in the mines for almost three decades, Johno built a life for himself and loved his work.

However, he was diagnosed 15 years ago with Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency – an inherited disorder from both parents that can cause lung and liver disease. Unfortunately, Johno started to experience symptoms of deterioration of both of his organs including fatigue, pain and shortness of breath.

Johno’s parents passed away within three months of each other in 2019, his dad with lung failure from Alpha-1, while his mum sadly passed away while he was in hospital fighting for his own life and he was unable to attend her funeral.

Because of his health condition, Johno had to relocate to Brisbane in 2018 to attend countless medical appointments and health check-ups, and to ensure he was ready to access medical care if things became critical.

In 2019, Johno received a liver transplant after being listed as top priority – he was on the waitlist for only 32 hours, highlighting how critical his condition was.

During his time in Brisbane, Johno wasn’t sure how much time he left. He was hospitalised at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital where Palliative Care teams visited him three times a week. His will was finalised and papers put in place for end-of-life decisions. He was deemed too sick for surgery and his lung capacity was barely functioning at 35%.

And worse of all, Johno wasn’t sure if he would be with his wife when the time came or get to see his then 15-year-old son graduate from high school.

The strain on regional families accessing healthcare is unfortunately a road well-travelled, with one in three transplant recipients living in regional or remote areas.

Families like Johno’s have to have to pack up their lives and stay in apartments close to their transplant hospital for all organs except kidneys. Johno had to fly between Brisbane and Gindie for visits, with the added financial toll, the acreage and cattle farm needing to be taken care of, and the constant uncertainty of how long this would all continue.

“It has been hard on me and my family, and living out in the country certainly makes it trickier and our hearts go out to the other families living in remote or regional areas who have to go through we have.”

There was finally a glimmer of hope when Johno received his lifesaving liver transplant – a gift of life that he is hugely grateful for – and a double lung transplant in early 2023.

His recovery has been slow and methodical. He spent around 55 days in ICU, more time in a ward and then finally made his way to rehabilitation. He was discharged from hospital in April but remained in Brisbane until his health stabilised enough to return home to Gindie.

Just before Christmas in 2023, Johno received the Christmas miracle he had been wishing for. He was finally given the medical green light to go home to his property in regional Qld after five long years mostly away from family.

Johno is the epitome of resilience and survival. While recovering in Brisbane, he dedicated himself to hosting information stalls for DonateLife, doing talks and media interviews, and talking to anyone and everyone who would listen and learn about organ donation.

Johno and his family are eternally grateful to his donors and their families who saved his life, twice!

How can you help during DonateLife Week?

Be the reason someone else gets a second chance of life by registering as an organ and tissue donor at donatelife.gov.au or with 3 taps on your Express Plus Medicare app.

Don’t forget to tell your family you want to be a donor – someone’s life depends on it.

Key facts and stats

• Around 80% of Australians aged 16+ support organ and tissue donation – yet only 7 million are actually registered.
• That means there are 9 million Australians who say they support organ and tissue donation, but haven’t yet signed up.
• There are currently around 1,800 Australians on the organ waitlist and 14,000 more on dialysis for kidney failure who need Australia’s help.
• Your family will always be asked to support your decision before organ or tissue donation goes ahead. They are much more likely to agree if they know you want to be a donor.
• Around 80% of families say yes to donation when you are registered, but this drops to 40% when they don’t know your wishes.
• One organ donor can save the lives of up to 7 people and change the lives of many more through eye and tissue donation.
• Transplant recipients come from different backgrounds, and experience different health issues, but they’re united in their gratitude for donors and their families.

Source: DonateLife Queensland