A Sunshine Coast man who waited almost five years for a kidney transplant was given a life-changing call at 1.30am – but the organ he was offered came with an added risk.
When the phone rang in late 2023, Glenn Williams initially thought it was a telemarketer.
“I thought, ‘Who’s ringing at this hour?’” Mr Williams said.
“I wasn’t expecting this gentleman’s voice, and then he said, ‘We’ve got a kidney for you’.”
Mr Williams was told to be at Princess Alexandra Hospital by 6am, but the excitement of finally receiving a transplant was followed by uncertainty when he learned the organ was considered a ‘risk’ kidney.
He questioned whether he should go ahead, before the doctor reassured him: “I strongly suggest you take it.”
For Mr Williams, the moment marked the end of a long and uncertain health journey that began years earlier with persistent high blood pressure.
That eventually led to a diagnosis of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis: a chronic kidney disease.
He spent almost a decade managing his condition before it progressed to dialysis – first through peritoneal dialysis and later home haemodialysis.
Despite the challenges, he remained determined to stay healthy and ready for the possibility of a transplant.
“You see things like your backpack ready to go in the cupboard, and then you think, ‘Oh, I better get those out and wash them because it’s been six months, and repack it’,” he said.
“It’s a bit of an emotional roller-coaster as it’s always in the back of your mind when this could happen.”
Kidneys have the largest transplant waiting list in Australia, with more than 1400 Australians officially listed as needing an urgent transplant.
There are also around 14,000 Australians on kidney dialysis, many of whom may benefit from a transplant in the future.
Mr Williams underwent a successful transplant at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Today, Mr Williams is back enjoying the active lifestyle he loves: walking, hiking and bodyboarding on the Sunshine Coast, thanks to the generosity of an organ donor and their family.
Now, he wants to inspire others to have the conversation about organ donation during DonateLife Week, which begins on Sunday, July 26.
Thanks to the generosity of 557 deceased organ donors, 1438 Australians received a life-saving organ transplant last year.
As part of the week’s celebrations, Mr Williams and his wife Lyn will lead a community DonateLife Walk from Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club on Sunday, July 26, at 10am.
The event will bring together transplant recipients, donor families, supporters and community members to celebrate the gift of life.
“Walk with us and understand more about organ donation, talk to the lovely people there and we can fill you in on that,” Mr Williams said.
The transplant has given him a renewed sense of purpose.
He is preparing to compete in the 2026 Australian Transplant Games in Launceston, Tasmania, in September after competing in the previous games just one year after his transplant.
“I’m currently training again for many different events: lawn bowls, javelin, discus, shot put, pentathlon and pickleball,” he said.
“It’s more to honour the donor. They saved my life. So, I’m keeping going to honour them, to keep them still going.”
As DonateLife Week begins, Mr Williams hopes his story encourages more people to think about organ donation and have the conversation with those closest to them.
“Please consider it and have a good think about it, because it could happen to you or your family that you may need an organ,” he said.
“If people haven’t registered, it’s a very difficult conversation.
“But if people know your wishes, it helps the conversation at the time of need.
“You can save lives.”
