A Second Chance At Life

Just moments before he was about to make the most difficult decision of his life, Tristram Creek's phone rang.

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The 40-year-old Mackay resident had spent almost six years tethered to a dialysis machine, enduring a relentless series of health setbacks while waiting for the call that could save his life.

That Saturday, exhausted physically and emotionally, he had decided he could not continue.

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Sitting through a five-hour dialysis session, Tristram had written thank you messages to the nurses who had supported him for years and prepared to tell them he would not be returning.

Then his phone rang.

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“I had my phone in one hand, open to a note where I'd written thank you messages to all the nurses over the years, and the nurse call buzzer in my other hand,” he recalled.

The first call came from a private number. He ignored it. Moments later, the phone rang again.

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“It was actually the transplant coordinator from Westmead Hospital telling me that they finally had a match.”

For Tristram, the moment felt nothing short of miraculous.

“If that isn't divine intervention, I don't know what is.”

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Originally from Cairns and now living in Mackay, Tristram was diagnosed with diabetes at just 13 years old. By his early twenties, the condition had begun taking a serious toll on his kidneys.

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“I knew my kidney function was declining, but I didn't make the lifestyle changes I needed to,” he said.

“It eventually got worse over time until I finally required dialysis, which I deeply regret not changing my lifestyle choices back when I had the chance.”

What followed was years of treatment, setbacks and uncertainty.

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Before he could even be considered for the transplant waitlist, Tristram lost vision in his left eye and eventually had the eye removed. He endured major dental surgery, multiple infections and internal bleeding that required blood transfusions. At one point, doctors feared he may have a rare and potentially terminal disease called amyloidosis.

“During that time, I was planning my funeral and building a house at the same time,” he said.

“When the amyloidosis team finally gave me the negative result, it felt like another chance.”

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Even after making it onto the transplant waitlist, the odds remained daunting. Because he required both a kidney and pancreas transplant, suitable donors were extremely rare.

“Finding an organ donor felt like a one in a million chance,” he said.

The call finally came earlier this year. The following day — which happened to be his late father's birthday — Tristram flew to Sydney and underwent a life-changing kidney and pancreas transplant.

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Nearly six months later, he describes the transformation as extraordinary.

“I feel amazing. I have a new lease on life. My whole world has opened back up again and I see life differently now.”

Today, Tristram is focused on maintaining his health through exercise, medication and regular appointments with medical teams in Mackay and Sydney. He remains deeply grateful to the donor and family whose decision gave him a second chance.

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And for anyone facing kidney disease or dialysis, his message is simple.

“Even when you feel like you can't fight anymore, you have to really dig deep and find the will to survive,” he said.

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“Just don't ever, ever give up.”

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