When first diagnosed with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Colleen struggled to learn more about the irreversible condition damaging her lungs.

And she had no idea how to get on the list for a double lung transplant. 

Fortunately for Colleen, she found the Clunes-based Spare Parts Club, a support group for people affected by organ donation at any stage of the journey. For the Colleen, who lives in Creswick, the group has been her lifeline. 

“I didn’t know what’s expected of me, I didn’t know anything to begin with. A lot of the information is really confronting,” Colleen said.

“Being rural, there is a difference in access for medical issues but others in the club know what you’re going through.”

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Colleen said damage was done to her life by the time she was eight years old, predominantly from passive smoking among a large family of smokers and at a time when little was publicly known about the dangers.

It is now at a point where Colleen has trouble going shopping. She relies on others to drive her places, excepting the transport she receives for medical appointments, like gym rehabilitation in Ballarat.

Spare Parts Club founder Barbara Merryfield has even stepped in to be Colleen’s nominated support person in the transplant process.

“A transplant will take away my isolation and give me better quality of life,” Colleen said. “It will give me purpose in life.”

Colleen urges people to learn more and consider donation, to know “it’s more than ticking a box on your driver’s licence”, you still need to join the Australian Organ Donor Register.

The more who are prepared to consider donation, the greater chance she has to find the right fit.

Until then, Colleen remains on standby.

For more or to register: donatelife.gov.au.