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

New goodies in the fundraising shop!

I know I've said it a million times before, but the crafting community are the most generous people you will ever meet!

I've had so many wonderfully generous donations for my Tour de Transplant fundraising shop.

I hit the $700 mark thismorning which is very exciting! You can check out all the donations received on my offical Tour de Transplant fundraising page.

The photo above is just a small selection of what is available right now, and there is still more to come.

Thanks so much to everyone who has made a donation or a purchase so far. You guys rock!!! 

Happy Liverversary Peter... and welcome to Donormate!

Social media may get a bad rap sometimes, but it really can be a blessing. You just never know who you might meet online...


I'm don't quite remember just how Peter and I met up on twitter, but we had an organ transplant waiting list in common.

Peter lived like this for 15 months while waiting for transplant. The gut pipes were draining bile because his main bile duct was blocked due to an autoimmune condition. The chest port was 24/7 IV antibiotics to get rid of bugs.

While I was waiting for new lungs in Melbourne, Peter was waiting for a new liver in Perth. We both made a pact that we would private message each other when the call finally came.

In serendipitous timing, we both received our lifesaving phonecalls within two weeks of each other. I was still in hospital recovering when I received the wonderful news from his wife.

Peter 6 months after transplant - competing in a 40km off road mountainbike race

Peter has been a wonderful advocate for organ donation and has achieved some amazing feats in the last year.

75km off road overnight bike ride

Today is not only Peter's one year anniversary, but it's also the day that he is launching Donormate.

Donor Mate Inc is a registered Australian Health Promotion Charity.

''Donor Mate is trail blazing new, upbeat and fun way of raising awareness for organ donation amongst 16 to 35 year olds. Donor Mates, best mates.''

You can pop over and visit the Donormate website, and you can also follow along on Facebook and Twitter.

Happy Anniversary Peter, and cheers to many more!

I Still Make Stuff

 Made by Rae Washi Dress

You'd never know it from reading this blog, but there's still some crafting going on around these parts!

Being short on time means that it mainly only ends up on Instagram rather than the blog.... but I thought I'd have a quick catch up here today.

One of the things that I really wanted to do this year was to make more clothes for myself.

I've already had heaps of wear from my Washi Dress. It's been lovely and cool for the 40 degree weather we've been having!

This is a quick summer top whipped up from a Vintage Simplicity 5007 pattern. Nice and cool and comfy.

This one was a WIP for a few weeks... the bodice was drafted using the same Vintage Simplicity 5007 top pattern (as above). I just shortened the bodice and then drafted a skirt to match.

I didn't even bother with a zip in this one. I just made it loose enough to slip over my head - the perfect lazy summer dress!

Have a super fab weekend all.... and make sure to check out the gorgeous goodies in the fundraising shop!

It's Novelty Brooch Friday at Tunabake!

Pop on over and visit Claire at Tunabake today, because it's Novelty Brooch Friday...

You can read a little interview, and find out how to play along on Instagram and win your very own CurlyPops Rainbow Brooch.

If you are playing along on Instagram, make sure to hashtag your pics #noveltybroochfriday

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.