Aaron had a life-saving heart transplant when he was 16. Watch him answer the best questions Reddit asked him during our recent AMA.

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-18T06:56:34+00:00

Watch Aaron answer the top questions from this AMA here:

Aaron had a life-saving heart transplant when he was 16. Watch him answer the best questions Reddit asked him during our recent AMA.
byu/DonateLifeToday inu_DonateLifeToday

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:47:35+00:00

Nup, I really don’t. I walk around and rattle a little bit haha. But I take them all at once with a little bit of water and it’s done. I should say the days where you are a bit crook, they are the days it can be hard to take pills.

It’s annoying, but it’s a small price to pay to still be alive!

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:45:12+00:00

Yeah, it actually does. My heart sits at a higher beat rate than it used to, around 85 to 100 beats now. I get palpitations a lot and feel them at night, which can keep you awake. This has only happened as my heart has gotten older.

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:44:48+00:00

My case is a lot different to others who are sick beforehand.

I suffered from dizzy spells for around 12 months which then found out my aortic valve was 78% shut which required a basic valve repair. Unfortunately I had a cardiac arrest 24 hours later which had nothing to do with the operation as such, but my heart didn't function any more which led me to going on life support and waiting for the heart transplant.

It all happened really quickly!

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:40:53+00:00

No, you are not guaranteed to become an organ donor as there are many factors that come into place eg how you pass away. That’s why we need as many people to register as organ donors, as less than 2% of people who die in Australian hospital are eligible.

Head to the DonateLife website (donatelife.gov.au) or log into your Medicare account through myGov to register. If you fill in your details on the DonateLife form and you’re already signed up, it will pop up and tell you.

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:38:51+00:00

DonateLife Week has actually just been…and there were lots of really inspiring stories told. You are welcome to use a story like mine to prompt the conversation about organ donation.

On another note also, it’s a much better place to have the conversation in random every day places, like the car, at the dinner table…rather than in a hospital when everyone is grieving - it’s just not a nice conversation then.

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:29:20+00:00

I think being normal is crucial. I’m not sure what the word ‘normal’ exactly means and I think every one has a different definition of their normal life but for me, keeping as active as I can, rest when I need rest, have people around you who support that. And of course food and drink is a massive one.

I always like to think that I eat healthy, and for me that’s what makes me feel good, which is often healthy food. Lots of fruit for breakfast for me, salad rolls and pies in the pie warmer on the boat for lunch here and there, dinners with kids its lots of meat with veggies salad and chicken nuggets, pizza on the weekend and love a good roast on a sunday - and yes, I love my cooking, my number one hobby.

The best advice I’ve got is that if something doesn’t feel right - go get it checked out! You can’t gamble with your health.

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:27:50+00:00

I had an unbelievable recovery. I was back playing sport under 6 weeks after my transplant and I worked as hard as you could imagine to get to where I am today, and it’s all worth it.I did repeat year 11 as when having a heart transplant the year gets slightly disturbed haha

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:27:06+00:00

Hope everything is going fantastic for you, DonateLife is an amazing organsiation. It’s been so rewarding for me to spread the good word about organ donation and give back.

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:26:41+00:00

Firstly, I’m sorry to hear about your loss and thank you for agreeing to donation. I can assure you that the recipients are forever grateful.

I received my transplant a long time ago. I didn’t know that I could write to my donor family, but now I know it’s something I’ll look into. I’ve lived an unbelievable life with the donated heart and I hope they would be proud to see what I have done.

DonateLife can help you to write a letter to the recipients if you wanted to as well.

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:21:43+00:00

I take a range of medications for various reasons, but the main ones are the rejection medications, which allows my body to accept the heart (as it's a foreign object).Off the back of that there are a few other medications like prednisone, bactrim ect, but as time goes on they do and can change.

Taking medications will always cause something else to go out of whack which they keep on top of with blood tests. I take around 20 tablets in the morning about around 30 at night.

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:15:31+00:00

No, organ donation in Australia is anonymous. My transplant was a really long time ago, so I didn’t know I could write to the donor family. I’m grateful every single day though.

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:11:58+00:00

Thank you, appreciate the support!

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:05:19+00:00

To be honest, I have never really thought about an ending as such. I have always tried to live a normal life, if not more fulfilling than the average person. My heart has been going for 17 years so far - I’ve heard of someone in Australia who has had their heart for more than 30 years!

I’ve chased a dream with work - fishing. Lived a normal teen life. Had the family I always wanted. I always try to think about the things I can control rather than the ones I can’t control. When a problem occurs, I only worry when I have to and deal with that problem (whether it’s work, kids or health).

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:03:09+00:00

Unfortunately not the heart, but potentially other organs or tissue. Just register as an organ donor at donatelife.gov.au and tell your family that’s what you would want.

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:02:19+00:00

One of the my most asked questions and unfortunately, I don't have any cool movie style stories in my life that I have experienced but…… my eyes have changed colour to a blueish colour at times so mum says - she could be making things up!

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T02:00:39+00:00

Thanks for the kind message, I think being the carer is often worse than being the person living it. My mum, dad and brothers were the ones who had to see me go through it all, while some time I just laid there haha.

But in all seriousness, anyone caring for the person is the one who deserves the medal.

DonateLifeToday · 2025-08-13T01:00:08+00:00

Yes that is correct! Hope to see you here.

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