Thank You Day 2018
Each year the lives of many New Zealanders are saved and transformed through the generosity of organ and tissue donors and their families.
Thank You Day, held on Sunday 18th November 2018, is an opportunity for the New Zealand community to say ‘thank you’ to all the individuals, both living donors and deceased, and donor families who have agreed to organ and tissue donation.
People of all ages need organ and tissue transplants and a transplant can mean the difference between life and death, being immobile or physically active, between someone needing care or being able to take care of themselves and their families, being blind or being able to see.
This Thank You Day Organ Donation New Zealand (ODNZ) has created a video showing just how life changing organ transplants can be the people who receive them. Three recipients share their journeys; Lisa Erikson, a 38 year old double lung transplant recipient, Marlon Naepi, a 23 year old who has had two liver transplants – the first at age two, the second at 21 - and Bryan Eckersley, a 73 year old heart transplant recipient.
The lives of Lisa, Marlon and Bryan and that of their families have been transformed by having organ transplants and they are all very grateful to their donors and their donor’s families for agreeing to donation. All three endeavour to live life to the full and make the most of the second chance they have been given.
