Killian, a matriculant from Durban, had been struggling at school when his vision began to rapidly deteriorate in January last year.
He desperately needed a cornea transplant but was told he had to wait four years for a cornea. But then as luck would have it, one became available within a couple of months.
"I was a bit nervous at first and also very excited," he says of the experience, "A week after the surgery, my eye settled and I could see clearer than I'd ever saw before.
I returned to school able to see the see the things I had previously struggled to see. This had a really profound effect on my life."
Killian further testifies: "Words are not enough to express my heart-felt thanks to the family of my donor.
I am really grateful and humbled that they were able to consider the need of someone else in the midst of their great loss. It is people like you who give hope to the degenerating society and my condolences go out to you."
Somewhere around a hundred transplant recipients, donors, their families and friends, gathered for the annual Organ Donor Tribute Day at the Fourways Memorial Park in Johannesburg last Thursday, 20 August 2009, to honour, thank and pay tribute to organ donors who have passed on, but still 'live' on in many others.
Families of donor patients and transplant recipients lit candles and released yellow balloons in exaltation to the selflessness of those who make a 'second chance at this wonderful thing called life', possible for hundreds of ailing South Africans.
Harood Moolah, also a cornea transplant recipient, said: "I'm eternally grateful to the Almighty for having given the donor families the courage to improve the lives of people like me."
"In fact I'm now looking forward to watching my son who is going to play in his first Gauteng Masters Tennis Tournament in two weeks time, I'm quite eager to watch him play," he says.
Dan Dobrowsky gave an emotion-clogged tribute to his late brother, actor Frantz Dobrowsky, who's appeared in many theatre and television productions but is most memorable as Paddaman in Leon Schuster's slapstick Panic Mechanic.
Describing his brother as exceedingly kind, Dan, clutching his brother's jacket in one hand, rendered a heartfelt poem honoring him.
"This smart old jacket has a tale to tell," the poem read, "of a man we all loved so well. It reveals the reason why he fell."
Dan concludes: "Lets not pass each other in the night. Reach out a hand, be a guiding light, take time and make sure that we're alright."
Kidney transplant recipient, Patrick Mosamo, laments the seeming lack of understanding of organ donation particularly in black communities.
"I'm very thankful for my donor but it's sad that black people do not donate. I think maybe it's because we're not aware about donating. There are many black people that are sick and are in need."
Patrick adds: "My children were very young when I became ill and I was afraid I was going to leave them just like that."
The day was also a day of hope for patients awaiting transplants such as Desmond Mdakane, who's on dialysis hoping to find a suitable kidney soon. He says: "So far I'm alright but praying that one day I'll find a donor."
"Dialysis is our next chance of life," says Thabo Molapisani, but frets: "Being on dialysis is fine but the problem is it wastes my time for doing other things like going to school.
Dialysis is also very painful, especially for chronic patients like myself. They have to put a needle in my body and I stay with that needle for four hours and it's not nice. That's the way I cope in my life."
Matsie Pooe, Transplant coordinator from Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital's Renal Department says she hopes black people will start considering organ donation.
"We really need donors because most of the patients suffering from renal failure or who have a problem are black people.
And most of the donors are white people," she says and adds: "so it is about time that our people come forward and register as organ donors.
One important thing is that one person can donate to more than 12 people. It is very good for one to donate, give someone a second chance to life."
Source: Sowetan
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