When the phone rang at 1.30am in late 2023, Sunshine Coast local Glenn Williams thought it was a telemarketer.
Instead, after nearly five years waiting for a kidney transplant, Glenn received the call he had been hoping for – the call that would change his life.
“First, I thought, ‘Who’s ringing at this hour?’,” he says.
“It was a bit of a shock.
“I realised it was a doctor and it wasn’t my normal doctor. She was on holidays.
“So, I wasn’t expecting this gentleman’s voice, and then he said, ‘We’ve got a kidney for you’. I was so excited. The doctor told me to be in PA Hospital by 6 o’clock in the morning.”
The excitement was followed by a moment of uncertainty when Glenn was told the organ was considered a ‘risk’ kidney.
He questioned whether he should go ahead, before the doctor reassured him: “I strongly suggest you take it.”
For Glenn, the moment marked the end of a long and uncertain health journey that began years earlier with persistent high blood pressure.
That eventually led to a diagnosis of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis: a chronic kidney disease.
He spent almost a decade managing his condition before it progressed to dialysis – first through peritoneal dialysis and later home haemodialysis.
Despite the challenges, Glenn remained determined to stay healthy and ready for the possibility of a transplant.
“You see things like your backpack ready to go in the cupboard, and then you think, ‘Oh, I better get those out and wash them because it’s been six months, and repack it’,” he says.
“It’s a bit of an emotional roller-coaster as it’s always in the back of your mind when this could happen.”
Kidneys have the largest transplant waiting list in Australia, with more than 1400 Australians officially listed as needing an urgent transplant.
There are also around 14,000 Australians on kidney dialysis, many of whom may benefit from a transplant in the future.
“I had a couple of false starts where I saw the doctor at clinic and she said, ‘Oh, we have a kidney for you,’ but she decided against it because it wasn’t a good fit,” Glenn says. “She waited for the right one, which was a better match.”
Organs such as the heart, lungs, liver and pancreas are matched by blood group, organ size, urgency and geographical location.
Kidneys are matched by blood group and tissue compatibility to ensure the best-possible match.
No matter someone’s culture, religion, gender, social status, disability or age (unless relevant), the person with the greatest need will receive the transplant.
Glenn’s wait for an organ was not just a medical journey, but an emotional one.
Despite needing a transplant, he never felt comfortable telling those closest to him, fearing someone might feel pressured to offer to donate.
“I didn’t speak up or mention it to people. I just couldn’t ask anyone for it,” he says.
Then, during a game of golf, Glenn’s brother walked over and handed him an envelope.
“It makes me emotional to speak about it,” he says.
“I go, ‘What’s this?’ My brother says, ‘It’s my last three years of blood tests from a doctor. Take that to your guy and see if I can be a donor’. It put me off my golf game, but that’s no big deal.”
Unfortunately, medical reasons meant his brother could not proceed as a donor.
“He was ruled out. It was a low percentage, about five per cent, that he may need some sort of treatment in 15 years’ time,” Glenn says.
Eventually, Glenn received the kidney he had been waiting for.
He underwent a successful transplant at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital.
The kidney began working well, and although recovery involved close monitoring, he soon returned home.
Today, Glenn is back enjoying the active lifestyle he loves: walking, hiking and bodyboarding on the Sunshine Coast, thanks to the generosity of an organ donor and their family.
Now, he wants to inspire others to have the conversation about organ donation during DonateLife Week, which begins on Sunday, July 26.
Thanks to the generosity of 557 deceased organ donors, 1438 Australians received a life-saving organ transplant last year.
As part of the week’s celebrations, Glenn and his wife Lyn will lead a community DonateLife Walk from Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club on Sunday, July 26, at 10am.
The event will bring together transplant recipients, donor families, supporters and community members to celebrate the gift of life.
“Walk with us and understand more about organ donation, talk to the lovely people there and we can fill you in on that,” Glenn says.
The transplant has given him a renewed sense of purpose.
He is preparing to compete in the 2026 Australian Transplant Games in Launceston, Tasmania, this September after competing in the previous games just one year after his transplant.
“I’m currently training again for many different events: lawn bowls, javelin, discus, shot put, pentathlon and pickleball,” he says.
Staying active is about more than fitness for Glenn.
“It’s more to honour the donor and to keep the organ safe,” he says.
“They saved my life. So, I’m keeping going to honour them, to keep them still going.
“It’s part of keeping active and keeping my whole body well.
“All these activities help.”
As DonateLife Week begins, Glenn hopes his story encourages more people to think about organ donation and have the conversation with those closest to them.
“Please consider it and have a good think about it, because it could happen to you or your family that you may need an organ,” he says.
“If people haven’t registered, it’s a very difficult conversation.
“But if people know your wishes, it helps the conversation at the time of need.
“You can save lives.”
BUSTING COMMON MYTHS
HEALTH
Myth: I’m not healthy enough and I smoke, vape or drink. I don’t think I can be a donor.
Fact: You don’t have to be in perfect health to be a donor. There are only a few medical conditions that may prevent you from being a donor.
AGE
Myth: I must be too old to be a donor.
Fact: You’re never too old. People over 80 have become donors.
RELIGION
Myth: My religion doesn’t support donation.
Fact: All major religions do. This includes Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Christianity. You can read some of the religious and cultural support statements in the community resource library on the DonateLife website.
FUNERALS
Myth: Organ and tissue donation will disfigure my body, so I won’t be able to have an open casket.
Fact: The surgery won’t disfigure your body and you can have an open casket if you wish.
HOSPITALS
Myth: If I’m a registered organ donor, I’ll automatically become one when I die.
Fact: Very few people can be an organ donor. Only about 2 per cent of people who die in Australian hospitals meet the criteria required to be an organ donor. In Australia, families of potential donors are always asked to agree to their family member becoming a donor before donation can go ahead.
Myth: If I’m a registered donor, doctors won’t work hard enough to save my life.
Fact: The doctor’s first priority is always to save your life. Organ and tissue donation will only be considered at the end of your life, or when death is expected.
DRIVER’S LICENCE
Myth: I’m already registered through my driver’s licence.
Fact: Unless you live in South Australia, you can’t currently register to be a donor when applying for your driver’s licence. It only takes one minute to register as an organ and tissue donor at donatelife.gov.au or through Medicare.
key messages
- This DonateLife Week (July 26-August 2), all Australians are being encouraged to register as organ and tissue donors and be the reason that someone else gets a second chance at life.
- Registering is important, but so is telling your family. This DonateLife Week, start a conversation about organ and tissue donation.
- One organ donor can save the lives of up to seven people and change the lives of many more through eye and tissue donation.
