Sue Welchman, a 52-year-old from Johannesburg, shares her incredible journey of receiving a life-changing liver transplant. Let’s spread awareness and inspire others together!

1. Which organ did you receive, and in what year?
I received a liver transplant in 2013.

2. How long were you on the waiting list for your organ?
I was on the waiting list for six months. I was kind of lucky, because my liver transplant was for cancer and because of that they were in a hurry to transplant in case cancer spread outside the liver, so I didn’t wait that long. I was definitely lucky in that my liver was still functioning well when the transplant date came, so I was not sick, and I was also quite fit from running 30km a week.

3. What was life like before the transplant How did you spend your days?
Before the transplant I worked full-time as a journalist at a major national newspaper. I also had a young daughter (6), so I was a busy, working mom. Along with that, we’re an outdoorsy family and, along with the running, I also enjoyed travelling South Africa (we’re so lucky to have this gorgeous country!) with my family, hiking and being in the bush.

In fact, facing the transplant was hard because the preparation made it seem as though all those things that we enjoyed most – being in the bush (sometimes in malaria areas), hiking, camping and so on would have to come to an end. It has not turned out that way, thankfully.

4. Describe the emotions experienced when you were told your donor is a match?
Shock. I was sitting on the couch this particular evening, working (rare for me, I hardly ever worked at home) when the call came. It was surreal. That whole night and the day afterwards were very stressful and unearthly. It’s also horrible knowing that for that call to come someone healthy has died, and that most often this shock is hugely traumatic to their loved ones. It’s so brave of families to let their loved ones go and let them live on via organ donation. Wow.

5. What is life like now, after the transplant?
A transplant nurse once told me that there are three types of transplant recipients: the ones whose lives are dramatically and positively changed by the experience, the ones who live as they always have lived and the ones for whom the experience is negative. I’d say I fall into the middle category. That said, I believe having a transplant is life-changing. You will never be the same. That’s no bad thing. I believe I am more conscious than the average person of just what a gift life is, and more conscious that life is never guaranteed. I’ve been extremely lucky so far – I’ve had very few side-effects, and none that stop me from doing what I want to, when I want to. I am very aware that some people have really struggled, and my heart goes out to them. For the ones whose lives have changed dramatically and positively: I am in awe.

6. What advice would you give patients on the waiting list?
Let go. You don’t control this process. I know it’s hard to let go with your life on the line, you want to control the process. You can’t, and, for your own peace of mind, you just have to let go and trust the process. I’m not saying that the process is always fair, but if you don’t let go and just let things happen, you are in for extreme anxiety. It’s not worth it. I learnt this the hard way. I got all worked up about the results of the first few of the battery of medical tests that must be done. Then I realised, the results were beyond my control and I just let go. I can tell you, it was the best decision, ever (apart from marrying my husband and having my daughter!)

7. Why do you think there is a shortage of donors in South Africa?
I think we’re a nation of many cultures, and delightful as this is, there are many cultural and religious reasons why people are prevented from adding their names to the list. Added to that, I think there is a lack of awareness. I know that, given these cultural and religious reasons, it is difficult to be a country where you are a donor unless you stipulate no, but I still believe that would be the better option.

8. If you could describe transplant in one word, what would it be?
Life-changing.