This story was inspired by the real-life experience of RFDS patient Brendan Wells. Brendan was born with Crigler-Najjar Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that meant his liver was unable to process and remove bilirubin. The toxic chemical is a by-product created by the body during the natural breakdown of red blood cells. To reduce the amount of bilirubin in his bloodstream and control the severe jaundice that it caused, Brendan spent about six hours every day sitting in an ultraviolet light box.

All that changed in 2010, when he was flown to Melbourne in the middle of the night by the RFDS for a liver transplant. While Brendan’s illness was uncommon, the evacuation was routine for RFDS Central Operations, which makes at least one interstate flight per week for Adelaide residents requiring life-saving or specialist surgery at an interstate hospital – day or night.

Brendan made a rapid recovery after his surgery, and now has the freedom to travel. ‘A couple of years ago that was completely out of the question,’ said his father, Tim. His school’s Year 7 camping trip to Kangaroo Island was completely off the agenda, and even Christmas holidays visiting relatives at Port Pirie were difficult. Tim would have had to spend half a day dismantling the light box to take it with them, and the transplant team at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne had to know their every move in case a liver became available. Ideally, Brendan was meant to be no more than thirty minutes from Adelaide Airport so he could be flown out quickly.

Life today is not without its complications. The seventeen-year-old must take an anti-rejection drug every twelve hours for the rest of his life. It suppresses Brendan’s immune system, so he has to be very conscious of avoiding infection. Side effects from the drug also mean that he has to stay out of the sun and drink plenty of fluids to limit kidney damage. But, as Brendan says, ‘I don’t have to go under the lights anymore. And I don’t have to worry about people at school asking, “Why are you yellow?”, which they did a lot.’

‘Brendan knows the gift he has been given and he is highly respectful of the opportunity,’ Tim said. ‘It is why we are very happy to promote the “Flying Doctor” and organ donation. Your money goes where it is needed, and it makes a difference. Brendan has the scar to prove it.’