Pauline’s hope lies in a Small Bowel Transplant

05 January 2009

To watch Pauline's interviews on A Current Affair Click Here

Hi, my name is Pauline Talty.

Pauline Talty I am 35 years old and suffer from a life-threatening condition known as Short Bowel Syndrome. I may not have long to live unless I have an operation called a Small Bowel Transplant.

I developed cancer when I was two years old and the radiation treatment I received from two years old to four years old permanently damaged my bowel.

Over the last four years I’ve had increasingly complex bowel surgery and now have less than 70cm of bowel, in poor condition, left. (Most adults have about 7 metres.)

Small Bowel Transplant surgery is difficult and rare and only available in America.

At the moment I am in Royal North Shore Hospital being artificially fed through my heart because I am not able to eat or digest food. Unfortunately I can't survive long on artificial feeding because it is destroying my liver.

In addition aggressive adhesions (scar tissue) from prior surgery, are strangling my bowel.

It is rare that anyone is approved for or undergoes a bowel transplant. Most people who need one are too old when their bowel fails or they are so unwell they would not survive the complex and arduous surgery.

The Australian Government is assessing my case for funding assistance however, even with Government help, there is bound to be a shortfall. It could be as much as $200,000.

I have a long history of defying the odds just surviving this far but I really need help to get over this huge hurdle to stay alive.

I hope, by telling getting my story in the out there to raise awareness of this illness as well as to get public donations towards my transplant.

I believe I have a lot to give back to the community. After a successful transplant I will be able to live a quality life, finish my MBA, return to my career as a Business Strategist and maybe even have a social life again!

But I’m honest with myself. There is a chance that I may not live long enough to have a transplant. Doctors in the USA may find I am not suitable or be unable to find a suitable donor. But I have to try and I’d like you to come on the journey with me.

If it happens that, for any reason, I cannot make use of the donations they will be held in trust by “Transplant Australia’ to help other people in similar circumstances. They will do great good for someone if not for me..

Pauline Talty

(m) 0405 154 837

(e) pauline.2.b@hotmail.com

To make your contribution by credit card click here

To make your contribution over the phone call 1800 827 757

Transplant Australia Ltd is a registered charity. Donations of $2.00 and above are tax deductible. Transplant Australia is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient under Item 4.1.1 Subdivision 30-B of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

Transplant Australia is proud to be co-ordinating the fund-raising campaign for Pauline Talty and providing all donors with official tax receipts. Please note any unused funds from this campaign will be used for either two purposes: for further research into the treatment of Gastrointestinal Failure Syndrome or in providing financial assistance for patients like Pauline requiring transplants. The Board of Directors of Transplant Australia has the sole discretion on the use of these funds and applies strict protocols to ensure that all funds are used in accordance with best practice fund-raising standards.