An inability to fulfil the final wish of a former patient prompted Mackay Hospital and Health Service (HHS) nurse Donna Contor to undertake specialised training to ensure that didn’t happen again.

The clinical nurse consultant for organ donation at Mackay Base Hospital has dedicated many years to supporting those in the region who wish to donate or receive organs.

While managing the process is complex, a previous barrier to donating eye tissue has been removed thanks to Donna’s dedication.

“My role involves coordinating any organ donations and looking after the families and potential donors along with going out into the community and raising awareness of organ donation,” Donna said.

“I’m out there to champion the cause.

“We had a person whose dying wish was to donate their eyes and we couldn’t do it. Had that person been in Brisbane it would have been okay,” she said.

“It got my brain ticking over; I was thinking how good it would be to offer that to local residents.”

Donna responded to an expression of interest for a scholarship put out by DonateLife, who manage organ and tissue donation statewide and she was successful.

“I went to the Tissue Bank at Coopers Plains to get more training,” Donna said.

“I think it’s important for this area. There are some people who may only be able to donate their eye tissue, and now we can ensure that wish is fulfilled.”

Donna was initially the only person based in the regions able to perform the delicate surgery, but there are now three more staff in regional areas undertaking the same training.

While the role is a challenging one, Donna said the rewards are worth it.

“I’ll be at community events and someone will come up to me to and tell me they received a kidney, or a lung transplant and some of those people go on to do things with me,” Donna said.

“To see these people living their best lives, and the gratitude they have, that’s what makes the job so good.

“My work is mostly with the donor families, consenting, looking after them and their relative. They give me strength and if we can offer a donation that has a positive outlook in the end, the fact they are helping people…it’s hard to explain how people go from their lowest point to a positive place.

“Seeing that resilience, that’s the best part of my job, and living in Mackay you often bump into them around town and it’s a unique relationship. You’re in their world at such an intense time.”

Statistics show that 8 out of 10 Queenslanders are in favour of organ donation, but only 31 per cent of Queenslanders have signed up to become donors.

“Many people just don’t get round to taking action on their wishes, and we are all busy these days,” she said.

“Since the reminder to register came in with driver’s licence renewals there has been an increase in registrations, but we still have a long way to go, and I guess talking about your death and dying with your family is never something that anyone wants to do.”

If you want to register as a donor, Donna has some advice.

“Jump online; it’s so simple,” she said.

“Registering takes the pressure off the family when they are in mourning; we can say to them, this is what that person wanted.”

It takes less than a minute to register as an organ donor. Find out more at: www.donatelife.gov.au