By Parker McKenzie
A Sassafras woman is proving there is life after illness as she prepares to hike the Tasmania wilderness with her teenage son to raise awareness for organ donation.
Martine Gilliot suffered from kidney failure when a blood infection put her on life support at age 29.
After surviving her illness, Mrs Gilliot was on peritoneal dialysis – where waste products are removed from your blood because the kidneys can’t adequately remove the waste – and living with chronically low energy levels.
When she was 37 her father donated one of his kidneys, resulting in her living a healthy and active life.
“Dad donated me his kidney and he passed away four years ago from nothing to do with the transplant,” Mrs Gilliot said.
“He was big nature and outdoors lover and he would back what we are doing as well.”
Now 48-years-old, Mrs Gilliot is setting off on 15 December to trek the Overland Track in Tasmania.
“I don’t often like to put myself front and centre, I’m not really that type of person,” she said.
“The bigger picture is if I can raise awareness for people who are sick that there is life beyond dialysis and transplant, and try to encourage people to have the conversation about organ donation.”
The Overland Track is a 65km, six-day alpine trek through the Tasmanian wilderness and Mrs Gilliot said walking it will be a testament to how much her life has changed since her father’s kidney donation.
“I was pretty crook when I was sick, I thought I’d never be able to do something like this,” Mrs Gilliot said.
“I work full time and I’m a mum, I kick lots of balls in the air and life is pretty much normal for me.”
Mrs Gilliot is encouraging people to become organ donors so others can have the opportunity for a second chance.
“The crucial thing is not only people registering to be an organ donor, but also having that conversation with their family,” she said.
“That time is very emotional when your loved one is sick and a lot of people opt not to donate organs because the conversation isn’t fresh in their mind.”
You can sign up to become an organ donor at www.donatelife.gov.au.
