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Honouring our Living Donors

17/7/2006

In recognition of their wonderful gift of life to another, the star pins and certificates were presented to living donors attending this ceremony by the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir and Sir Nicholas Shehadie.

Approximately 80 guests attended, including living donors, their recipients, and other official guests. The living donors represented the majority of the 25 renal transplant units around Australia. At a later date it is intended to hold ceremonies in each State to distribute the Living Donor Star Pin and Certificates to all living donors, where possible.

The Star Pin and Certificate of Acknowledgement for Living Donors

Designed by Ann Stein

The Star Pin is a 9ct gold star with a small gold star missing which represents the donated organ. When worn on the lapel, its uniqueness is designed to create interest and discussion, which in turn raises awareness for live organ donation and transplantation.

It also marks the event that the donor is a member of a special group of individuals that have demonstrated the highest level of humanitarianism. Only live donors will be presented with the lapel pin and certificate.

There derived the inscription:

A Star because you are special

Gold because you are precious

Live Kidney donation is a gift

A gift by choice and not by chance

The inscription describes their selflessness to undergo such a major operation for the sake of another and that it was by choice.

This is a way of saluting all live donors contributions to life.

The pin card was copied into a certificate format and it became a package with the lapel pin attached to the card for presentation and a certificate where the donors name and date of donation could be recorded. The donor is able to frame the certificate and wear the pin or frame both in a deep frame.