WHEN Kenny Morrissey went into surgery at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney for a life-changing heart transplant, he thought he would be leaving a new man.
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But instead, the 50-year-old from Forster woke up only to receive the bad news.
“They told me they had found too many blockages in the (donor) heart and said it wasn’t suitable so they couldn’t go through with the transplant,” he said.
“It came as a bit of a shock. I expected to go in and come out with a new heart and into recovery mode but it went the other way.”
That was in August and Kenny is still on the waiting list for a transplant. But despite the setback, Kenny says he is remaining optimistic.
He has been instructed to keep his phone on 24/7 and when he gets the call he has to leave in 15 minutes and get straight to the hospital.
“My blood type is pretty common so I’m hopeful. It’s just a waiting game. I might get the call before Christmas. That would be a nice present,” he said with a smile.
A sudden heart attack at the age of 32 meant Kenny had to have open heart surgery. On top of this he also had stents put in his heart to prevent blockages from occurring.
After a good recovery, all seemed fine until seven years later at a regular checkup when doctor’s discovered blockages in Kenny’s heart. He was then told he needed to have quadruple bypass surgery.
Years of strain on Kenny’s heart soon took its toll. His heart has weakened to the point where a transplant is his best bet at living a full and healthy life.
“My heart is at the stage now where they can’t possibly do anything more,” he said.
For Kenny, a new ticker would mean everything. He is looking forward to the day he can get back into a normal life.
He is eager to play touch football again, run around with his grand kids and work – something he has been unable to do for the past two years due to ill-health.
“I’ve got a family and grand kids I want to be here for,” he said.
“I also want to keep working. I get bored so I started volunteering. I’ve been helping clean up the Aboriginal reserve, getting on the ride on mower, doing a bit of maintenance work.”
While Kenny patiently waits for that life-changing phone call, he hopes that in the meantime he can inspire other Aboriginal men and women, young and old, to look after themselves.
“Aboriginal men and women are still living in the past. They don’t really go to the doctors and get a checkup. I guess it’s the way they’re brought up,” he said.
“It’s sad because they shouldn’t let it get to that stage when it’s too late they should be looking after themselves now. There is a better way than getting on the drugs and alcohol.
“Older men and women especially should start getting regular checkups so they can live a longer life.”
For the past couple of weeks, Kenny has been participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program at Tobwabba Aboriginal Medical Centre in Forster.
Jamie Fernando, a GP at the centre, said Kenny’s involvement in the program means he will be better prepared for his recovery after the transplant.
“While he’s waiting he’s improving his general fitness levels so he can better tolerate the rehab. The rehabilitation side of things is crucial in getting him back to good health and preventing future cardiac events.”
Donor facts
- ONE organ and tissue donor can transform the lives of 10 or more people.
- Around 1600 people are on Australian organ transplant waiting lists.
- In 2013, 391 organ donors gave 1,122 Australians a new chance in life.
- Less than one per cent of people die in hospital in the specific circumstances where organ donation is possible. The circumstances in which you can become a tissue donor are less limited.
- The majority of Australians are generally willing to become organ (76 per cent) and tissue (76 per cent) donors.
- In Australia the family will always be asked to confirm the donation wishes of the deceased before donation can proceed.
Source: Donate Life Australia