Gordon Black

2009
It was with great sadness that the WA transplant community lost a precious soul in March when Gordon passed away. Gordon was the first lung transplant recipient in WA. The transplant was very successful, so much so that 12 months later he returned to full time work as a tree surgeon. Unfortunately though, the fungi associated with the industry attacked his lungs causing a progressive down turn in lung function. In 2008 Gordon’s transplanted lung failed and resulted in his passing.

Gordon and his wife Rona have been avid supporters of the Foundation since its inception and Gordon's contribution will be remembered treasured for a very long time. In early 2009 Foundation Board unanimously voted to offer Gordon and Rona "Life Membership" in recognition of their contribution. An intimate group of family and friends gathered at Gordon and Rona's home for the presentation. To view photos from the afternoon click here

We have lost a passionate, generous and inspirational man - WA’s first lung transplant recipient - Gordon Black. We will miss him and will celebrate his life and contribution always.
Deepest sympathy to Rona, family and friends from Board members of the Heart & Lung Transplant Foundation of WA Inc. Rest in Peace Gordon. 

2004
In early 2001 I was diagnosed with severe emphysema by Dr Eli Gabbay. Dr Gabbay recommended I stop work ASAP as continuing to work could be fatal. I had been battling along for several years until in the end I could barely walk 20metres without a rest. At this stage I was a heavy 118kg’s. My given target weight was 85kg. I started oxygen for 16hours a day at 2litres/min. Shortly after, it was increased to 24 hours a day at 3-4litres/min.

It was recommended I should go to Melbourne for a transplant. This was met with mixed feelings, Melbourne being a long way form home and family and the prospect of a long wait. By this time my fitness level was good from two years of walking and weight exercises and bloody vegie soup for lunch and dinner, with chilli powder for weight loss and taste. (It worked!).Eventually Melbourne said they could not fit me into their program because of the waiting list. This was fairly devastating news and we continued on hoping something would turn up. We then got a call from Royal Perth Hospital to come up for tests in early October 2004. We came up to Perth from Dunsborough on the 25th October 2004 for final tests and I was accepted into the program. At 11pm on the 11th November 2004 (an amazing coincidence) we signed the consent forms and had 1 minute silence. We received a call at 8.25pm on 28th Nov 2004 instructing us to prepare for the transplant. This happened at 6am on the 29th Nov 2004. So far it has been very successful and I recently passed my six month bronchoscopy biopsy with flying colours.

I would like to extend my thanks to the valuable support of my wife, Rona, the transplant crew at RPH including the physios and all the staff on G6. And thank God that we now have this successful facility in WA.

 

Gordon Black, as he will be remembered