T H E B AROS S A MAG | 33
>> MAIN: Megan McLoughlin, pictured with Lily Thornton.
Diabetes had damaged her eyes and
she needed surgery to remove some
blood vessels that had formed.
“They over lasered my eyes and within
three days, I was legally blind. Basically,
at the age of 26, I was left with five per
cent of vision in my left eye and three
percent in my right eye. I have no
peripheral vision or depth perception.
“About three months later, I went into
renal failure…I went from 66 percent
of function to 23 percent in three
months…then when they realised my
function was at 7 percent it was a Friday
afternoon and they said I wouldn’t last
the weekend so they put a central line
straight into my artery into my heart
and accidently nicked a vein.”
She laughs at the scenario, saying
she must have had Dr. Seuss, but the
“accident” proved to be a blessing.
“I lost three litres of blood but it saved
my life because I was so toxic.” and it was my transport co-ordinator.
Now on dialysis, Megan returned to
Sydney because she feared missing the
flight for the transplant she so urgently
needed. “He said how would you like some
organs for Christmas? It’s really hard
to receive that call. You go oh, my
life’s been saved and then you realise
somewhere out there is a family
who has just had their heartbroken.
They’ve just had to say goodbye and
in that process, saved someone else’s
life. That is the most selfless act. They
are grieving, their heart has been ripped
out of their chest and they are thinking
of other people? Amazing,
just amazing.”
“In November, 2010 the doctors said
you need to get your affairs in order
because you won’t’ be seeing Christmas
this year…I left that appointment and
thought well, hope is stronger than fear
and 0.01 percent is better than nothing.
It was probably not the right attitude to
have, it’s not the reality. But it’s what got
me through.”
That much-awaited phone call
did come.
“December 20 I was at home and
being legally blind, my phone tells
me who’s ringing and it started
chanting “Sydney Kidney Doctor”.
I answered thinking there was
something wrong with my bloods
Megan had a new kidney and pancreas
and whilst she struggled through what
can only be describe as an emotional
roller coaster, she was a survivor.
Now it was time to embrace this
econd chance at life.
Being so sick for so long meant her
love life was non-existent, so she asked a
friend back home in the Barossa
to get her a date.
“I was that desperate… I was passed
this bloke Mark’s email address. We
arranged to catch up for coffee one
Sunday afternoon… that’s the Mark
I married!” Megan laughs.
“The worst thing is it wasn’t until our
third date that I told him I was legally
blind – don’t tell me women aren’t
calculated! I had stepped in something
after we had left a restaurant….he goes
didn’t you see that? Well, funny story!
He asked do you see the sign up there?
I go nup. The pole? Not really… he’s
pointing to all these things. He’s gone,
do you see me? I’ve said sometimes and
he just stood there, reached forward
and grabbed my hand - that was it.
“We argue who was more desperate
because he’s eight years older than me
and he married the blind, transplant
recipient!”