CONNIE Muvhango's wish is to meet the families of the people whose organs have helped her live a healthy life over the past four years.
Muvhango, 33, of Diepkloof, Soweto, was the recipient of a kidney and a pancreas in August 2006.
"I visit a memorial for organ donors every year in August. I would like to meet the families of the people whose organs I carry so that I can thank them for the life I live today," Muvhango said.
Muvhango was diagnosed with renal failure in 2003 following complications from diabetes, a condition she had since she was 16 years old.
"I was placed on a diet but I continued eating things I was not supposed to," she admits. "I realised later what damage an unregulated diet causes."
Unexplained weight gain and difficulty passing urine were the first symptoms that something was wrong.
"I would vomit every morning. At times I thought I was pregnant. I also had difficulty sleeping and breathing," Muvhango said.
Her condition also resulted in hypertension.
Renal failure occurs when the kidneys fail to filter and remove waste from the body.
Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone that aids the body's absorption of glucose from food.
While awaiting a kidney transplant Muvhango underwent dialysis, which replaces the function of kidneys to flush out toxins.
These two conditions took their toll on Muvhango. At times she experienced blackouts.
"I lost so much weight that people started to talk. I didn't allow myself to be affected by the gossip," she said.
In August the hospital informed her that a match had been found.
"I was lucky because some people wait years to find a compatible donor. Had it not been for this, my family and I would never have known about transplants," she said.
According to the Organ Donor Foundation (ODF) less than 800 people will undergo transplants this year, despite 3500 people needing organ or tissue transplants. Potential donors are patients who are brain dead or on life support.
Though a person can register as a donor with ODF, doctors need the permission of their family to donate their organs, foundation spokesperson Samantha Volschenk said.
On October 23 ODF will take part in a global walk spanningfive continents to raise awareness on organ donation.
More than 700 organ transplants were performed in South Africa last year, the majority of which were for corneas and kidneys.
Fit Muvhango thanks donors
CONNIE Muvhango's wish is to meet the families of the people whose organs have helped her live a healthy life over the past four years.
Muvhango, 33, of Diepkloof, Soweto, was the recipient of a kidney and a pancreas in August 2006.
"I visit a memorial for organ donors every year in August. I would like to meet the families of the people whose organs I carry so that I can thank them for the life I live today," Muvhango said.
Muvhango was diagnosed with renal failure in 2003 following complications from diabetes, a condition she had since she was 16 years old.
"I was placed on a diet but I continued eating things I was not supposed to," she admits. "I realised later what damage an unregulated diet causes."
Unexplained weight gain and difficulty passing urine were the first symptoms that something was wrong.
"I would vomit every morning. At times I thought I was pregnant. I also had difficulty sleeping and breathing," Muvhango said.
Her condition also resulted in hypertension.
Renal failure occurs when the kidneys fail to filter and remove waste from the body.
Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone that aids the body's absorption of glucose from food.
While awaiting a kidney transplant Muvhango underwent dialysis, which replaces the function of kidneys to flush out toxins.
These two conditions took their toll on Muvhango. At times she experienced blackouts.
"I lost so much weight that people started to talk. I didn't allow myself to be affected by the gossip," she said.
In August the hospital informed her that a match had been found.
"I was lucky because some people wait years to find a compatible donor. Had it not been for this, my family and I would never have known about transplants," she said.
According to the Organ Donor Foundation (ODF) less than 800 people will undergo transplants this year, despite 3500 people needing organ or tissue transplants. Potential donors are patients who are brain dead or on life support.
Though a person can register as a donor with ODF, doctors need the permission of their family to donate their organs, foundation spokesperson Samantha Volschenk said.
On October 23 ODF will take part in a global walk spanningfive continents to raise awareness on organ donation.
More than 700 organ transplants were performed in South Africa last year, the majority of which were for corneas and kidneys.
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