Liver transplant recipient Bella Dyer raising awareness of organ donation after childhood experiences

That was the reality for Kings Meadows High School student Bella Dyer, of Launceston Tasmania, who is seeking to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation.

Bella was diagnosed with biliary atresia as a young child and required a liver transplant. She spent a year recovering in a Melbourne hospital, including missing a year of school, before being able to return home to Tasmania.

Twelve years later, she remembers it well.

"I remember all of the staff that worked with me. I could definitely understand what was happening at the time, and both of my parents were so stressed," Bella said.

"I've had a few hiccups since, but I'm so grateful."

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While still requiring regular checkups in Melbourne pre-COVID, Bella has been able to make a strong recovery.

She now reflects on the hardships faced by her parents, and also the life-saving decision of the donor who provided the liver.

Bella, 17, wanted more people to understand the importance of organ donation, and decided to raise awareness for DonateLife with a special fundraiser at her school on Tuesday. With the help of the school's prefects group, she posted a video detailing her experiences to the school's Instagram page, held a sausage sizzle and arranged to have students wear a touch of pink or purple for the day.

"The prefects got excited about it and we all thought it was a very underrated organisation that's not talked about enough," Bella said.

It prompted school library staff member Mandy Ritchie to speak about her father, who died of an aneurysm but was able to ensure he was an organ donor.

Bella said it was vital that everyone knew how to ensure their wishes were kept when it came to organ donation.