Summary
Jordan's liver transplant at PA Hospital in his late teens has given him a second chance at life.
It was the nurses who got him through the hard times and now he has embraced a career in nursing at PAH.
Jordan has come full circle working as an emergency nurse at Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH), the same place he received a life-changing liver transplant at the age of 16.
Jordan's mum was prematurely induced when the doctor noticed he was growing slower than his twin brother. Not long after, he was diagnosed with a rare, inherited condition called Alagille syndrome where bile builds up in the liver or other organs in the body.
Jordan said the disease, which affected his heart and liver, meant things like high-contact sport were out of the question due to his brittle bones.
“When I was five, I fractured my femur just by stepping off half a step … twice!”
As the years went on, frequent checkups and hospital admissions started taking their toll on Jordan's education and attendance.
“I was at home, in bed feeling nauseous, lethargic and sleep deprived from many nights attempting to control the unforgiving itch that comes with liver disease.”
By the age of 14, Jordan raised the question of being put on the liver transplant waitlist at a regular check-up with his paediatrician.
“It turned out to be the biggest pitch for being waitlisted any 14-year-old would ever make because my requirement for transplant wasn't emergent, it was for quality-of-life purposes.”
Once consented and signed, Jordan's wait began. 22 months later he received a call in the early hours of the morning that would change his life. He had a transplant offer.
For Jordan, the PAH now holds a special place in his heart. It was during his long recovery there, after experiencing a rare transplant complication, that he decided to become a nurse.
“Up until that time, I was thinking I’d pursue a career in teaching, perhaps as a performing arts teacher.
“But then things got really rough with my recovery. I’d just been given the best gift of my life (my transplant) and I didn’t really think I was going to live much longer, to be honest.
“It was the nurses who really got me through and now I’m celebrating 10 years with my new liver.”
Before his transplant he said he was never able to plan his future or even foresee what it would hold.
“Thanks to my donor and their family, not only can I plan for the future, but I now can't wait to see what it has in store for me.”
It takes only one minute to register on the Australian Organ Donor Register, visit www.donatelife.gov.au