Cobram’s Krishna Manser is celebrating five years since she received the double organ transplant that saved her life − but her story began some 43 years earlier.
At just 12 months old, Krishna was diagnosed with diabetes.
“My mum found me in the bottom of the cot in a coma and I got airlifted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital from where we lived in Mount Gambier,” she said.
“They didn’t know what was wrong with me because back then young people didn’t get diabetes, let alone babies.”
Krishna lived in Mount Gambier for two years before returning home to Cobram where she was born.
Over the years, Krishna has struggled with complications from Type 1 diabetes.
In 2011, she was told her kidneys were failing and that she would need an organ transplant.
“I was on dialysis in December 2015 and was on the organ waiting list,” she said.
“About 12 months before the transplant, I ended up with severe neuropathy in my legs, where diabetes attacks the nervous system.
“I was so sick, I had to do a will and sign over power of attorney for my family so that if anything happened, they could make the decision to turn off my life support.
“I was very lucky to get the transplant when I did, I had already told my mum I knew everything had shut down and I was going to pass away.”
At 44 years old, Krishna received a kidney and pancreas transplant in 2016 at the Monash Medical Centre in Clayton.
“The day of the surgery, I actually got to see the organs in the ice box − it’s something I’ll never forget.”
Krishna had to manage a range of complications after the transplant, including septicaemia, which almost cost Krishna her leg.
According to Krishna, kidneys only last about 12 years and a pancreas can last for about seven years after a transplant.
“I know some people on Facebook and their organs have lasted 27 years, it all depends how you look after your body,” she said.
“I can’t eat certain foods, drink or smoke and I have to keep exercising and take my medication − there’s very strict rules.”
“The medication disintegrates our bones, so I have osteoporosis and were at a really high risk of cancer.”
Krishna has also experienced another strange side effect from the transplant.
“I started listening to different music and liking certain foods I never did before, which is really weird but surprisingly common with transplant patients.”
Krishna said there were a couple of things that could be done to support people who require an organ transplant.
She said a dialysis unit was needed in Cobram to prevent patients from having to travel to Shepparton for treatment.
Another key way to help was by becoming an organ donor.
“There’s thousands of people who don’t get their transplants and pass away − we do not have enough organ donors in Australia,” Krishna said.
“We’re fighting for an opt-out system where you automatically become an organ donor when you get your license.”
Krishna has tried to contact her organ donors’ family with no success but has been in contact with a child who received a liver from the same donor.
She was surrounded by family for her fifth-year anniversary celebration on November 4 and said she will continue to enjoy her second chance at life.