Mzansi there is no way around it: the death of a loved one is insurmountable, and funerals are difficult. The final gift of an organ donation can, however, save multiple lives and bring healing to other families.
Through organ donation something positive can come out of the pain. Tanya Bothma has been on more than one side of this emotional process: as an organ recipient and as the family member of a loved one who has gifted their organs and tissue. She joins this episode of Sisters Without Shame to share her journey.
The year 2017 was nothing short of life-changing for Bothma. Not only did she lose her brother in a devasting accident, but she also become the first ever African to receive a bilateral lung transplant in a state hospital.
“When I needed a transplant there were a lot of mixed emotions,” she says. “I never thought I would need a lung transplant; I think what really hit me was for my life to be saved somebody else needed to pass. How do you process that?”
The gift of a second chance
Before her surgery Bothma says that she had multiple respiratory problems growing up. “I suffered a lot of viral infections which left me with chronic lung disease which left me with limited airflow.”
Receiving a set of lungs has been life changing. “I am doing things today that I never ever thought were possible. This was only a dream come true,” she says.
“I exercise, I love putting my trainers on, I smile every time I put them on which is something I could never do pre-transplant. I live life to the fullest, I enjoy every moment with my beautiful family and I do all of this in honour of my hero, my organ donor.”
On this episode of Sisters Without Shame Tanya also chats about:
- Dealing with survivor’s guilt as a recipient of organs.
- Overcoming the grief of losing a loved one and the ultimate sacrifice.
- Giving back and living her best life.
Listen to the full interview on Sisters Without Shame
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Want to connect with Sisters Without shame?
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