Warrnambool resident Brian Klemm is proving you can rebuild your body.
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Twenty-five years after a liver transplant – followed by a triple bypass – he is fighting fit.
As a 43-year-old, Mr Klemm was diagnosed with a major liver disease and waited two years for a suitable donor.
“Back then, it wasn’t a common procedure,” Mr Klemm said.
“I was lucky a compatible liver was found within five weeks after mine was removed.”
Mr Klemm can thank a 22-year-old man for his second chance at life and although he’ll never know the identity of his life-saver, his daughter Jodie Lewis thinks the age of the donor explains her father’s zest for life.
“He’s like a cat – he has at least nine lives.” she said.
“I’m sure he’ll out-live the lot of us.”
Mr Klemm hopes his family’s optimism rings true and admits he is feeling great for a 70 year-old.
“They can’t stop me,” he said.
“I’ve had a triple bypass since then.”
Unfortunately Mr Klemm’s wife Val was diagnosed with motor neurone disease while he was undergoing major heart surgery. She lost her fight within months.
“Mum had never had a sick day in her life,” Mrs Lewis said.
“In April 2013 we had Dad at the hospital in Geelong having heart surgery and Mum being diagnosed with MND at The Alfred in Melbourne.”
Mr Klemm thanks medication for his ongoing health and says his six-monthly check-ups at The Alfred hospital were more about “saying hello”.
On the 25th anniversary of his liver transplant, Mrs Lewis says she is thankful her dad is alive.
“It was attending Jodie’s 18th birthday that kept me going after the transplant 25 years ago and now it’s spending time with the grandchildren,” Mr Klemm said.
Mr Klemm’s operation was one of 80 liver transplants performed across Australia and New Zealand in 1991.
The federal government’s organ and tissue authority says there were 264 transplants performed in 2015.
There are 1500 people on organ transplant waiting lists in Australia.