The CurlyPopsTwoHearts Teatowel

Oops it seems to have been a month between blog posts.... but I have fantastic news

Following on from the #CurlyPopsTwoHearts project that was running over on Instagram during DonateLife Week 2014, we now have a teatowel featuring some of the gorgeous images.

This is a very special project that was inspired by two friends who were both on the transplant waiting list waiting for new hearts.

During DonateLife Week 2014, I asked all of my instagram friends to post a pic of a heart and tag it with the official hashtags #DonateLife and #HaveTheChat along with #CurlyPopsTwoHearts.

The idea behind it was to create awareness, and to inspire discussion with family and friends about organ and tissue donation.

Then my lovely creative friend Belinda had the brilliant idea of creating a teatowel. The teatowel could hang in kitchens in Australia, and around the world, to inspire everyone who enters your home to Have The Chat.

My photographic assistants

We now have a fantastic teatowel filled with beautiful heart images, along with the IG usernames of those who provided the them.

The teatowel is now available for pre-order with 100% of the profits being donated directly back to The Heart and Lung Transplant Trust (hlttv.org.au) based at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne (where I received my lifesaving double lung transplant last year).

The Teatowel will be professionally digitally printed onto a 100% natural fibre light-weight blend woven from 55% linen and 45% combed cotton, and then hemmed and packed so it's ready to come to your place!

Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery (sorry but it takes that long for shipping and printing and then cutting and hemming).

You can pre-order your very own right here -

DonateLife Week 2014 - Two Hearts

Today marks the beginning of DonateLife Week 2014 in Australia, so I'm setting a little challenge to all my lovely bloggy friends that are also on Instagram.

I have two wonderful friends who are both on the waiting list for new hearts, so this challenge is inspired by them both. 

These two gorgeous boys and their parents have had to move away from their home in Adelaide, to relocate to Melbourne while their dad waits for a heart. They've already been here for a really long time.....
 

When it comes to organ donation, the most important thing you can do is to have the chat with your loved ones and make sure they know your wishes.Then register your wishes online...


To encourage everyone to discuss organ donation, here's your challenge (if you choose to accept it)!

• Post a pic of a heart on Instagram any time this week and tag it with the official DonateLife Week hashtags #donatelife #havethechat and also add #CurlyPopsTwoHearts so that I can find your pic. I'll create some beautiful photo mosaics for IG and for the blog for everyone to enjoy.

You could save a life, just like mine was saved a little over a year ago. Please feel free to repost and share #donatelife #havethechat #curlypopstwohearts DonateLife

One Year On...

One year ago today, a very brave and generous grieving family made the decision to donate their loved ones organs.

That decision saved my life.

There are no words to explain the gratitude that I have for being given a second chance at life. This year has been one like no other that I've ever lived through.

Physically and mentally getting through a transplant is really difficult and very emotional. I could never have made it through without the support of my family and friends. I can't even imagine not being around to see my nephews grow up!

I was able to celebrate another birthday, and help with another successful Hottie Challenge.

Amazingly, I've now been back at work at my day job full time since October. I been to Sydney twice for work.and I've been to Brissy and had a stall at Finders Keepers.

I took part in the Melbourne Marathon and the Great Strides Walk.

 But the best thing is that I can now get out and just ENJOY living!

None of this would ever have been possible without my beautiful shiny new lungs and that amazingly selfless gift...

I think about my donor every day. While I'm able to celebrate today with my family and friends, my donor family will be marking a different anniversary. I hope that they can find comfort in knowing how truly grateful I am.

Last year, I was still in hospital recovering during DonateLife Week. This year, I'll be taking part in the FilmLife Film Workshop Weekend, and also promoting organ donation via the Tour de Transplant and Tour de Chat.

I have a very good friend who is still waiting for a heart. I truly hope and wish and pray that his call comes soon... and please, whenever you can, make sure you have the chat with your family and friends.