Before receiving a lung transplant, Canberra’s Steve Williams was confined to a wheelchair and had to be connected to oxygen 24/7 in order to live.

Now, he’s celebrating 30 years since his first double lung transplant and is encouraging others to consider organ donation as it can save the lives of many in need.

Anyone in Australia aged 16 and over can register on the Australian Organ Donor Register, and it only takes one minute to do so.

“I encourage everyone to have a conversation about their own donation wishes with their family. Promoting the Australian Organ Donor Register is important, and is equally as important as your family knowing your wishes after you die”, Mr Williams said.

The Canberran was 26 years old when he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.

“I started losing my breath, coughing a lot, getting a lot of chest infections and because I was in my early 20s, it was always put down to colds, flus, or bronchitis,” Mr Williams said.

“So, it wasn’t until I started losing lung function that specialists did some serious investigation and by this time, I was pretty much on 10 per cent lung function.”

Mr Williams required oxygen 24/7 and needed a wheelchair to go any great distance.

“By the end of that, I was living at home with my wife and living life through watching getaway shows and things like that.”

Mr Williams was on the transplant wait list for three years before undergoing his first double lung transplant in October 1995. He received a second transplant 13 years later due to complications.

“Since then, I can breathe freely; I don’t need oxygen and I don’t need a wheelchair,” he said.

“I can live my life, and I can do my tenpin bowling, I ride a pushbike at times, I have had kids, twin boys who are now 25.

“It’s just amazing I didn’t die back in 1995, and 30 years later, I’m still here to tell the story and remain incredibly grateful to my wonderful organ donor and their families for their precious gifts.”

We encourage all Australians to consider organ and tissue donation. To register your decision, visit donatelife.gov.au/act-canberra-weekly, and don’t forget to tell your family your donation wishes.