Some people wear their heart on their sleeve. Chris Laurie displays it on his licence plate.
The AHT-85 plates he has just put on his Nissan Navara would be cryptic to most but are very special to this inspirational Caloundra resident.
They mark an astounding tale of survival and also promote the most precious gift one human can give another.
AHT means Australian Heart Recipient and 85 references that he was the 85th person to be given a transplant in an operation involving the late, great Doctor Victor Chang.
This was way back in 1987 when Chris was 21. He is now 55 and has made the most of his opportunities, having three children, a career as a dental technician and enjoying a range of outdoor pursuits, including fishing, kayaking, and four-wheel-driving.
Chris told Sunshine Coast News he had been a fit and active Brisbane teenager, who played squash, swam and surfed.
But when just 20, he caught a viral infection that affected his heart. He was finding it very hard to breathe and tough to do anything at all.
Chris first became sick on Mother’s Day 1986 and was listed for a transplant in July 1987. He was lucky enough to get a second chance of life in September 1987, when “transplanted” at St Vincent’s in Sydney as heart transplants at Queensland’s Prince Charles Hospital did not commence until 1990.
The famous Dr Chang (pictured) played a crucial role in the operation. Tragically, Dr Chang was shot dead in his home in Mosman, on Sydney’s north shore, in a failed extortion attempt in July 1991.
Chris said he had met the doctor at Christmas parties for donor recipients and he was the most humble and caring man he had ever met.
“My mum also remembered how Victor spoke to her while my operation was being completed, telling her I was extremely lucky to receive my donor heart when I did as he thought I wouldn’t have lived too much longer with my own heart as it was quite diseased from viral cardiomyopathy.
“The news he had been murdered was like hearing a member of my own family was killed. It was just devastating.”
Chris said his donated heart, from a 24-year-old male, and the doctor’s expertise had given him the ultimate gift.
He said he was later featured in The Telegraph newspaper as, at the time, he had been the first heart transplant recipient in Australia to father a child.
“When I was transplanted, I was told I had a 10 or 15 percent chance of living another five years,” Chris said.
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“But I think it was pretty much guesswork back then and there have been many advances in medical science.
“To go on and have three children and a career is pretty amazing and I am incredibly grateful.”
Chris and his family over a few generations often holidayed at Caloundra and he moved to the seaside favourite from Brisbane two years ago.
He wanted to tell his story to help urge more people to sign on as organ and tissue donors.
DonateLife Week runs from July 25 to August 1.
The Federal Government also has provided more than $3 million in DonateLife Partnerships and community grants to promote The Great Registration Race for DonateLife Week.
The Western Bulldogs, Melbourne Storm, Sunshine Coast Lightning, and Australian Professional Leagues are among seven successful organisations to receive DonateLife Partnerships as part of a four-year $4 million package to boost organ and tissue donation throughout Australia. A further 14 community grants have been awarded to community, grassroots, and Indigenous engagement organisations.
The Minister responsible for the Organ and Tissue Authority, Dr David Gillespie, said there were around 13 million Australians aged 16 or over who were eligible to register as an organ and tissue donor – but had not.
“Sport can no doubt play an important role in reaching these Australians who may otherwise not know that they can sign up as organ and tissue donors,” the Minister said.
“For some of the 1800 Australians currently on the organ transplant waitlist, it’s a matter of life and death.”
How you can help
The Great Registration Race for DonateLife Week (starting July 25) aims to encourage up to 100,000 more Australians to join the Australian Organ Donor Register, asking Australians to get their phone and Medicare card out to register and get involved.
Registering is easy and only takes one minute at donatelife.gov.au/register
