ORGAN recipient Yousif Hanna is fighting fit after he received a liver in January .
The Mt Lawley pharmacist was diagnosed with autoimmune primary sclerosing cholangitis, a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the bile ducts, which causes liver failure.
Mr Hanna’s declining health forced him to take 20 months off work, and he was on the organ donor list for 18 months.
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READ NOW“I was unfit to work due to extreme fatigue after hospitalisation in May 2014,” he said.
“I was told that I had end stage liver failure and was in need of a transplant.”
After the operation, his health drastically improved .
“I am the best I have ever felt,” he said.
He encouraged people to join the Australian Organ Donor Register (AODR) and help save lives.
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital intern pharmacist Josephine Sparta said registering was important because it made it clear to your family your decision to help save lives.
“With around 1500 Australians on transplant waiting lists today, we need to optimise every donation opportunity to save more lives,” she said.
“The family will always be asked to confirm the donation decision of their loved one before donation for transplantation can proceed.”
To register for organ and tissue donation go to www.DonateLife.gov.au/Decide or call 1800 777 203.