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Carolyn Bond - Two Healthy Lungs

This is the story of a very special gift I received - two healthy lungs.

15 December 1998

On the 21st of November 1994 I received a very precious gift. So special it will remain in my heart and mind as one of the best gifts I have every received in my life. That gift was two healthy lungs given to me by a person and a family that I have never met. It was touching to me the way this family, who knew no thing about me, except for maybe a few things the Doctors had told them, being thoughtful enough to give life to a stranger when their loved one had died.

At the time I could only imagine what they were going through as I knew what it was like for me those few days before my transplant, as I watched my own life slip away. Because of this, I decided to write them a thank you letter, if thank you is the right word. I just wanted them to know how debilitating my life was before and how much their precious gift had changed my life. One thing I did not expect to get was a reply from them, but I did. We continued corresponding via Red Cross. I will not bore you with the trouble we had with Red Cross, as I guess they were only doing their job.

Eventually the second most wonderful gift happened - I actually met my donor family, the Cannon family. My Mother and I made the journey from Perth to Sydney in December 1996 to meet this special family. The meeting itself was simply wonderful and reminded both my Mother and me of a family reunion or catching u with old friends we had not seen for years. I have a very special bond and a very special love for this family. It helped me to understand more about the role donor families play and to forge a bond and a friendship with this wonderful family.

A friendship I will treasure for all my life and beyond

Carolyn's donor was Natalie Cannon.