Eight years ago‚ Sanjay Maharaj was on the brink of death, writes Suthentira Govender.
It was only his daily medication that kept his diseased heart pumping. But a generous “gift of life” — in the form of a new heart — gave the father of two more time with his family.
Maharaj is now one of several organ transplant recipients who have lent their faces and stories to non-profit organisation Love Life Gift Life’s national poster campaign‚ aimed at encouraging more South Africans to become organ donors.
According to the Organ Donor Foundation‚ over 4‚000 South Africans are awaiting organs.
Love Life Gift Life was started last year by four friends — Shaylene Perry‚ Alice Vogt‚ Fawn Rogers and Siobhan Scallan‚ all whom have had lung transplants themselves.
“We’re hoping these powerful and inspiring messages from recipients will help address the critical shortage of organ donors in South Africa which is drastically decreasing yearly‚” said Perry‚ managing director of Love Life Gift Life.
The posters will be displayed in hospitals‚ clinics and pharmacies.
“We want to encourage individuals to talk to their families about organ and tissue donation and to communicate their wishes to their next-of-kin. The majority of the public are not aware that their family members are the ones who ultimately have the final say and organs cannot be donated without the consent of family‚” said Perry.
Maharaj said of the poster campaign: “The joy of making people aware of organ donation could only happen because I am still here.”
“Watching a group come together to participate in the poster campaign‚ that all have had a second chance at life and to show the world that organ donation is a real thing‚ was a godly experience.”
Marilee Chananie — a kidney and pancreas recipient who also features on a poster — said they’re “proof that organ donation does save lives“.
“They show individuals such as myself who have been fortunate enough to receive a life-saving transplant‚” Chananie said.
