Tragedy could become a gift of life

Bethlehem College Principal, Eion Crosbie says he is blessed to have a second chance at life. Photo/John Borren

Bethlehem College principal Eion Crosbie had a liver transplant in 1996 and says he owes his life to the organ donor.

"It's truly been a God-blessing for me. If it wasn't for the transplant I wouldn't be alive today," he said.

His comments come as new figures from the New Zealand Transport Agency show more than half of the Western Bay's current driving licence holders were organ donors.

Mr Crosbie, a 59-year-old father of three, said in 1977 he was wrongly diagnosed with liver problems believed to have stemmed from chronic hepatitis.

About 10 years later, another specialist diagnosed him with sclerosing cholangitis which affected the bile ducts and liver, resulting in inflammation and scarring which lead to liver damage.

To compensate the body created "rogue pathways" to try and get blood back to the heart, he said.

Mr Crosbie said in 1996 while travelling from Bangkok to Japan he fell ill, and by the time he reached the foyer of his hotel in Fukuoka he collapsed, suffering three bleeds into his esophagus and stomach ulcers.

He was rushed to hospital and after losing four of the six litres of blood inside his body he needed a series of blood transfusions, he then underwent a lots of tests over 10-12 weeks.

"They looked after me incredibly well in Japan. I was told if I did not have a liver transplant within six months I probably would die," he said.

Mr Crosbie had the transplant at Brisbane Hospital on October 26, 1996 with $80,000 funding from the New Zealand government.

Mr Crosbie said most people had to wait six months or more for the operation.

"God was definitely looking after me.

"I now celebrate two birthdays a year, October 26 and November 15, my real birthday," he said

Mr Crosbie said apart from taking mild doses of anti-rejection drugs he was in "tremendous health" and was so thankful to the anonymous donor, who also helped a young child who received part of the same donor's liver.

He urged more people to tick the 'yes' box to become organ donors.

"This is a life or death matter and there is no better gift that in the midst of a tragedy for something good to come out of it. I've been very blessed with a new chance at life."

In Tauranga city 57 per cent or 52,916 of the 92,785 current licence holders had ticked the yes box, while 56.5 per cent of the 35,412 licence holders in the Western Bay of Plenty region had done so.

Nationally 1,753,151 current licence holders had agreed to be organ donors.

Organ Donation of New Zealand spokesperson Melanie Stevenson said it was vital people had the conversation with their families so their loved ones knew their wishes beforehand.

Nationally there were 36 organ donations last year, involving 148 organs, she said.