The “trick or treat” that saved a Townsville local’s life

For 62-year-old Mark Purvis, celebrating Halloween has taken on a whole new meaning thanks to a life-saving organ donation on October 31 2020.

Working in the defence force, Mark had no idea he had high blood pressure until it was diagnosed during a pre-deployment medical assessment in 1990. What followed was a 31-year journey culminating in tri-weekly dialysis, a devastating end to one potential kidney transplant and, finally, a successful and happy result.

“I had no idea anything was wrong until 1990 when they discovered I had a kidney disease called immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, which basically stops your kidneys from being able to filter waste from your blood,” he said.

“Both my brother and I have it, but it wasn’t until 2017 that I went on dialysis to keep my body running.

“I had to go on dialysis three times a week for three years and eight months and that was hard – dialysis completely washes you out. It’s a real process.”

In May last year, Mark received the call he’d been waiting for – there was a kidney in Brisbane that may be a viable transplant.

“It was the middle of COVID so everything was different, but I travelled to Brisbane, got ready and then received bad news,” he said.

“When I arrived at Princess Alexandra Hospital they said the kidney was too damaged and I’d have to go back on the organ transplant wait list.

“That was pretty hard to hear.”

After returning to tri-weekly dialysis in Townsville, Mark received a second exciting phone call – and this time, there was hope.

“I got the call in the morning that there was another kidney in Brisbane for me and by that afternoon I was jetting off,” he said.

“It was October 31, Halloween, and the kidney was a 90 per cent match for me, but I wasn’t ready to accept hope until I was being wheeled into the theatre because I’d had it taken away from me before.

“It was four hours of surgery and after I woke up, the kidney just started working.

“Some people get candy on Halloween; I got a kidney!”

Mark was joined in Brisbane by his wife and son and said both were in disbelief at how quickly his body had accepted the new organ.

“My son said, ‘dad, you’ve just come out of an operation and yet you’re so energetic and celebrating’. I was over the moon that it had finally happened,” Mark said.

“I wrote a letter to the family of the organ donor saying they had given me the gift of life; it might sound clichéd, but that’s what it was.”

Mark said the message he wanted to share with the community was to join the Australian Organ Donor Register, so your family knew your wishes.

“I’ve spoken to so many people about the organ donation register and some of those people have never heard of it,” he said.

“I would encourage everyone to search up the organ donation register and join – it’s the easiest way to save a life.”

It takes less than a minute to sign up to the Australian Organ Donor Register by visiting donatelife.gov.au