Guest Speaker Martina Appelman from Heart and Lung Transplant trust. Martina commenced her presentation with a 10 minute  video presentation from the Organ and Tissue transplant organisation. She then told her story. She went from being a busy active mother working full time who had a persistent cough for several years to being diagnosed with a rare lung disease that required a lung transplant. She was on bottled Oxygen for two years and confined to a wheel chair during the waiting period and attended the Alfred hospital on a regular basis for education and tests. She had two false alarms when she was told to stand by for a transplant but neither was suitable. Martina finally got a call and received a double lung transplant which took 9 hours but she recovered and was discharged from the Alfred two weeks later. Although full recovery takes 4 to 6 months and recipients have to take anti rejection medications for life they usually are able to live a full active life. Martina now gives back by helping the Heart Lung Trust. Their current project is to provide 5 more apartments for regional people to attend the Alfred to supplement the 3 units already sent up. She answered many questions and provided literature, cope and water bottles. Have you had the discussion with your family regarding organ and tissue donations. You may have signified that you are prepared to be a donor., but it is your family who will ultimately make the decisions in the end. Go to donatelife.gov.au for more information