QUINNIE Westwood loves cuddles with her Pa. But aged just four, she doesn’t yet understand what makes their bond extra special.
The pair helped make medical history as part of a kidney exchange program that has saved lives.
Rod Westwood, from Geelong in Victoria, donated his kidney to a stranger – indirectly saving the life of then 33-month-old Quinnie, who simultaneously received a kidney from another generous donor.
“I don’t usually cry or get emotional, but when I think about what Quinnie has been through and seeing her progress… she’s very special,” Rod, 63, said.
Nineteen months later, Quinnie is thriving. But without the Australian Paired Kidney Exchange Program, which matches kidney donors and recipients nationwide, her prognosis was looking grim.
Her kidneys had been failing since she was delivered by emergency caesarean at 34 weeks. Quinnie needed multiple surgeries, and was on daily dialysis, before her life-saving transplant.
Quinnie’s dad, Jarrod, couldn’t donate his kidney. So Rod underwent the same tests. “I was a match, but I wasn’t the best match.” That’s when he was paired with someone else in dire need and Quinnie received a kidney from “an even better match”.
Last year, 271 living Australians donated a kidney to a loved one. Rod is now encouraging us all to consider organ donation and register with DonateLife.
Details – donatelife.gov.au
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