Only God can give life but we can share it!
The Transplant Support Group (Malta) was established on the 9th May 2000 by a group of organ recipients on the initiative of Alfred Debattista, who, only a few months earlier was transplanted with the heart of a young Gozitan donor. One of the primary objectives of this philanthropic NGO is to offer support to organ transplantees and also to patients awaiting a transplant. The Transplant Support Group also keeps in touch with the families of donors and provides assistance during times of illness, recovery or bereavement.
Hundreds of renal patients are on dialysis. Many of them are on a waiting list for a kidney transplant. Most of these have to spend five hours every other day hooked up on a machine for the rest of their lives. Scores of heart patients have their days numbered. Only a handful will be transplanted with a new heart that will save their life. Both kidney and heart transplants are performed in Malta. Every year a good number of transplants are made possible through the generosity of donor families. Nevertheless, many patients die awaiting a transplant. You can put a stop to this by signing up as a donor.
James Muscat, the vice-president of the group feels that some people still have mixed feelings about organ donation.
The decision to donate is an ethical decision that concerns two different aspects. One is whether or not to donate one’s own organs. The other is whether to donate the organs of a relative who has just passed away. ‘Do unto others as you would want done to you’. How would you feel if you or a close family member were in need of an organ transplant? Please do not take your organs to Heaven. Heaven knows we need them here!
Donating gives you the opportunity to better the lives of many other people after your death. A donor can literally save the life of seven different persons. There is a constant shortage of donors and the Transplant Support Group (Malta) strives to promote awareness on organ donation through its own members, the media, seminars, talks and other efforts to convey the message to the Maltese public.
Indeed many lives are saved annually through transplantation. Over the past years numerous patients in Malta are still alive thanks to their donors. A number of living kidney donations are also performed in Malta by a professional team that includes surgeons, consultants, transplant coordinator and nurses. The first unrelated living kidney donation in Malta was done in 2004 when surgeons transplanted James’s left kidney into the abdomen of David, who, prior to the operation, was very seriously ill and dependent on dialysis treatment.
Joe Bonello, a committee member of the Transplant Support Group and the first heart recipient in Malta, owes his life to the generosity of his donor’s family. Joe was terminally ill before the transplant. This was his only chance to live. Today Joe leads a very active life and promotes organ donation throughout the island. Other members include Peter Paul, a liver transplantee, young Daniel, a cornea recipient and Tony, who received the gift of a life-saving kidney from George, the same donor whose heart is today still beating in Alfred’s chest.
Are you a registered organ donor? If not, be one of the many thousands of Maltese who already possess a donor card. If you are already enrolled as a potential donor, then we ask your support to spread the word so as to encourage others to do the same. Remember that you can save a life and, likewise, others can save your life too!
Should you wish to enrol as an organ donor or if you would like more information please visit www.transplantsupport.com.mt. Alternatively you can email on transplantsupport@onvol.net or contact Mr Alfred Debattista on 21223026.
The Gozo section was launched on the 23rd May 2004 to ensure that our Gozitan members benefit from the same services as those provided in Malta. You can contact them on- 21565604, 99460703.
Be a hero. Become a donor and be proud of the card you carry in your wallet. It can truly save a life! What better gift can you ever possibly give? Cherish life by giving life!
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