Three minutes with Kate Stodart

Most people don't like to talk about death and organ donation, but Kate Stodart's job is to do just that. The Reporter has a quick chat to her about her role as communications manager at DonateLife Queensland.

Q: What exactly is your role at DonateLife Queensland?

A: As the communications manager, my role is to promote the issue of organ and tissue donation and encourage people to have discussions with their family about their wishes.

Q: What fostered your passion for organ donation?

A: It's an area of health that interested me because I had exposure to it in the 80s when liver transplants were first happening at the Royal Brisbane Children's Hospital. At the time it was still very pioneering and it was exciting to watch that and see the possibilities for people who without this medical technology would die. It's nice to know that my work can directly contribute to one person living, but also honours the donor and the donor's family who have given an amazing gift.

Q: What do you think is the biggest misconception surrounding organ donation?

A: I think people are unaware of how important it is for their families to know that they are willing to go ahead with organ donation. A lot of people say ‘yes I want to be an organ donor' in their mind, but don't verbalise it to their loved ones. Once we speak about death and donor donation more openly, we will have more donors.

Q: What has been the best organ donation story you have heard of?

A: I guess there's not one that stands out to me, but what stands out to me is the characteristics of the donor families...and that is their generosity and their strength and their dignity in saying yes to donation when it is the worst time of their life. That's what keeps me in the job.

Q: How long can donated organs be kept for?

A: Once the heart and lungs have been removed from the body they need to be transported within four to six hours, the liver has 12 hours, and kidneys can be kept for 24 hours. The shorter the time frame the better of course. Regarding tissues, corneas can be kept 10 days, heart valves stored up to five years and bone tissue can't be used before six months because it needs to go through treatment, and after that it can be kept for five years.

Q: What do different religions believe about organ donation?

A: Most religions are for donation, but a lot leave it up to individual choice. The issue of a low donor rate is not a health issue but a community issue. Until the community decides to donate we can't improve the donor rate.

Q: Can you understand why some people may be fearful of organ donation?

A: Look, donation is a very, very personal choice and varies for the individual. My job is not to coerce people into donation but to help them find the information to make a yes or no decision, and to then discuss that with their family.

Q: If you could get one message out there what would it be?

A: Discover the facts about organ donation, decide if you want to donate or not, and discuss your decision with your family.