'Born again': The 'unbelievable' gift from Jack's dad which saved his life

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Around Jack Siely's neck hangs an ode to his dad, Charles, who saved his life.

The gold chain has a small, golden kidney hanging from it, the back of which is engraved with "Charlie" and a date, October 29, 2002.

It's the date his dad's kidney was successfully transplanted into his body.

"It was unbelievable," Mr Siely said of the transplant.

"I woke up like a new man."

Although Mr Siely's dad died in March 2023, his kidney remains.

"He's still living, there's part of him still on the planet," the Ulverstone man said.

"He's been cremated, but he's still got a living organ here on earth, which is really special."

Over the years, the 55-year-old has been admitted to hospital about 10 times with minor kidney complications, but his dad's kidney remains a good match almost 23 years later.

"[It's a] small price to pay for where I am today, you know, it's just amazing," he said.

"I get emotional sometimes when I talk about it; it's just unbelievable what it's done for my life and our family."

Since being given his second chance at life, Mr Siely raised two children, Jaxen, 26, and Tom, 23, with his wife Bobbi and re-trained as an electrician.

"To have that transplant and to be born again and be able to do life again was just so special," he said.

As a young man on a working holiday in Queensland, Mr Siely developed a throat infection, which became strep throat and led to nephritis, an inflammation of the kidneys.

About nine years later, he was on dialysis three days a week at the North West Renal Unit and gearing up for a transplant.

"This place was your lifeline," he said outside the medical unit.

"If you didn't come here, you didn't live."

In the lead-up to the operation in Melbourne, Mr Siely had 13 seizures in nine hours, which he said was traumatic for his wife.

He said one of the highlights of his life post-transplant was attending the Australian Transplant Games last year in Canberra, where he competed in golfing and darts events.

The 55-year-old said it was inspiring to meet other transplant recipients, but it was particularly special to see the family members of those who had donated their organs when they died.

"We all lined up and we were cheering and clapping, 'cause they're the heroes of everyone that's there," he said.

"We're all there because of their family members."

This week marks DonateLife Week, encouraging donor registrations to help the 1800 Australians waiting to receive an organ transplant.

In the North-West, donor registration rates are well above the national rate of 36 per cent.

The West Coast LGA was leading the way at the end of 2024 with 63 per cent of eligible people registered, with the lowest registration levels in the region coming from Latrobe's LGA at 46 per cent.

Mr Siely had a message for those not yet registered as organ donors.

"You can't take them with you," he said.

"It's just imperative that people do sign up and have the conversation with their families."

To register as an organ donor, visit donatelife.gov.au/register-donor-today.