24 July 2023

Celebrating DonateLife Week, we’re sharing the story of Annabelle Taylor – a courageous woman whose life was forever changed at the eleventh hour by the invaluable gift of organ donation.

In 2012, Annabelle received the devastating diagnosis of liver cancer. With her two daughters by her side providing unwavering support through her initial shock and devastation, Annabelle went on to spend nearly two agonising years on the liver transplant waiting list.

"I was devastated, but after a while, I realised that it was really all about making a choice: go through this crying or laughing. I made a conscious choice to face what could be the end laughing," says Annabelle.

“As I waited for a transplant, I was resigned to being my very best for my children. I left my professions as Music Therapist and Teacher and took on a less stressful job. I did my best to top up my savings for the sake of the kids after I had put my affairs in order.”

As Annabelle’s condition declined and her health deteriorated, her doctors believed she had less than two weeks left. Despite the clock ticking, Annabelle and her family’s hopes began to fade.

“We had our mobile phones on for 24 hours a day, but I had very little hope that I would be offered a transplant as I was 62 at the time. So, we just tried to make the most of it and make every day special.”

In the middle of the night in 2015, Annabelle received a phone call at 1:30am that a donor liver was on its way to the Austin Hospital.

With her health in such poor condition and unsure if she could even survive the surgery, Annabelle bid an uncertain farewell to her children. "We were all pretty well prepared for the worst."

When Annabelle woke up following the surgery, the Austin Health Social Worker circulating the ICU told Annabelle that she has never seen such a smile in her life.

"My ICU Nurse was a great lover of good rock and soul music. I asked him to share his music with me regularly.

On day two, they caught me dancing to music in front of the window while I was admiring the view.”

Inspired by her second chance, three weeks after her surgery, Annabelle founded a Community Access Choir - now 65-members strong.

Annabelle also went on to participate at the 2016 Australian Transplant Games, competing in the breaststroke, backstroke, and relay events – taking home a gold and two silver medals.

Annabelle’s story is a reminder of the urgent need for public awareness about organ donation.

At any given moment in Australia, more than 1,800 people are anxiously awaiting transplants, with a further 14,000 relying on dialysis. With just a minute of our time (and our Medicare details in hand), you can help save the life of someone like Annabelle and change the lives of their loved ones.

To find out more about how you can be an organ donor, visit the DonateLife website.