As Australia marks DonateLife Week, and local neighbourhood houses in Buloke encourage everyone over the age of 16 to sign up, the Hogan family from Birchip have shared their life-changing moment and the gift of a kidney from father to son.
Exactly one year ago last Friday, Darren and Veronica Hogan received the call they had been waiting for: it was time to go ahead with a two-way living kidney transplant that would give their son Will a new lease on life.
Will, now in his early 20s, was born with renal hypoplasia, a condition where both kidneys are underdeveloped. His mother Veronica remembers the moment concerns were first raised.
“Will was probably about three weeks old,” she said. “Maternal and child health nurse Cathy Bales thought something wasn’t right. He kept falling asleep when I was feeding him and he would projectile vomit. Cathy kept calling us back in and eventually referred us to Ballarat Health and that’s when we found out.”
Early treatment involved neutralising Will’s stomach acids with bicarbonate in his formula, but the Hogans were warned that one day he would need a kidney transplant. They just didn’t know when.
Although Will’s condition was genetic, his siblings Blair, Samuel and Georgia were all cleared of any similar health concerns. Veronica said, “With Georgia and Samuel I had ultrasounds at 20 weeks to make sure that they had kidneys, bladders, tubes in between all that sort of stuff and they’re fine.”
Sport
Will continued to play sport and live life with as minimal interruptions as he could. Will said, “I was always cold, freezing really, and I always wanted to sleep, especially on Sunday after playing a couple of games of football and hockey.”
Darren and Veroncia said they had tried to keep life as normal as possible for Will, they didn’t want him to be known as “that sick kid” and most people were actually surprised to find out Will needed a transplant, as he had been working and playing sport up until the week before.
Will said, “I wasn’t nervous when I played sport because I knew I needed a new kidney anyway.”
When Will turned 18, he had to transfer his care from the Royal Children’s Hospital to Bendigo Health. Veronica said, “It was there the doctors fully ripped off the Band-Aid and laid it all out. They told us exactly where we were at and what had to happen. They were also mindful of the best time to do it. They didn’t want to jump the gun too early, because they thought it would be better if Will could complete his apprenticeship before he underwent the transplant, but they had to balance that with how far they could push Will’s body.”
The family and medical staff discussed dialysis but agreed that a living donor transplant would give Will the best chance at a full and active life.
Both parents began the lengthy testing process to see if they were a match. A kidney is considered a match for donation when several medical tests confirm that the donor’s kidney is compatible with the recipient’s body. Remarkably, both parents were good matches.
Requirements
“Living donation has strict requirements,” Darren explained. “You have to be over 30, have no history of cancer, and be in top health. You can’t smoke or vape. They want to make sure the donor’s remaining kidney is strong enough to last a lifetime.
“We left the decision to the specialists,” Darren said. “It had to be the best option for Will, not just the most convenient. In the end, it was me and I couldn’t have been happier, and it also meant Veronica could manage all the organisation.”
After 18 months of screening and preparation through Bendigo Health and The Austin Hospital, the transplant took place at The Austin in Melbourne. In a fascinating part of the procedure, Will’s non-functioning kidneys were not removed. Instead, Darren’s donated kidney was placed in Will’s groin area, where it could be accessed more easily for ongoing monitoring.
Will joked: “On the ultrasound, my two kidneys look like golf balls and Dad’s looks like a watermelon.”
Surgery
Going into surgery, Will said, “I wasn’t scared, I was just a bit nervous sitting around waiting until I went in, which was about quarter to one. Dad had gone in at 8.30 a.m., but I was always confident it was going to work because the doctors had been so positive.”
Siblings Blair, Samuel and Georgia disagreed, they said, “It was pretty scary knowing that two members of your family were being operated on at the same time.”
Following the operation, Will remained awake for the first 24 hours so the medical team could closely monitor the new kidney and make any necessary adjustments. He underwent blood tests every hour and ultrasounds every three hours during that period.
Each day, hospital staff would check the kidney’s functioning percentage, which Veronica recorded on the whiteboard in Will’s room. The new kidney needed to reach 60 per cent function before Will could be discharged. He was admitted with just 14 per cent kidney function, and after the transplant, Darren’s kidney added 51 per cent and this continues to improve. Will said his most recent test showed the kidney functioning at 72 per cent, with doctors expecting it to reach 80 or even 90 per cent.
Will said, “My kidney is kicking on pretty good now, but my body will be fighting it the whole time trying to get rid of it, so I have to continue to have blood tests to monitor and adjust the treatment and daily anti-rejection medication.”
Darren spent four days in hospital before he relocated to a Ryder-Cheshire Victorian Homes Foundation self-contained unit near the hospital with Veronica. That place was amazing,” Veronica said. “Fully equipped with everything we needed, and the whole family could stay together, and it only cost us $50 for the whole time we were there.”
Recovery
Overall, Darren said his recovery went really well, although he later learned he’d suffered a partially collapsed lung during surgery, which extended his hospital stay by a day. Darren said, “I wasn’t really sore, but I experienced all the issues Will had had, I was freezing and I would go back to bed as soon as I had had the blood tests about 10 or 11 o’clock, but this only lasted about 10 days. I still have some tiredness, but the doctors say this should be back to normal in about two or three years.”
Will spent six days in hospital, and four weeks at Ryder-Cheshire Victorian Homes, which was reduced from six because Austin pathology had a relationship with Swan Hill Health. Veronica said, “This was a game changer for Will as he needed to have tests Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.”
Will had around three months off work at the time of the transplant, but now continues to live a full life, completing his apprenticeship at Maher Glass in Swan Hill, where his employers have supported his recovery every step of the way.
He continues to have regular blood tests in Swan Hill and sees visiting specialist there as well. In between, he can hook up with his Austin team through telehealth.
“Unfortunately, I can’t play contact sport anymore,” Will said. “But my energy levels have gone through the roof. I didn’t realise how tired and cold I always felt before.”
Involvement
While his football and hockey days are behind him, Will remains involved with Calder United Lions, and gets involved in any way he can.
The Hogans say they feel incredibly grateful to have had the option of a living donor transplant and are now passionate advocates for raising awareness.
“We want people to know how important organ donation is,” said Veronica. “It’s not just about ticking a box on your driver’s licence anymore. You need to register at donatelife.gov.au and talk to your family.”
Darren agrees. “Honestly, I thought it would be harder. But it wasn’t. A broken arm would have been worse. Giving a kidney to my son has been the most amazing thing I’ve ever done; we see the results every day.”
Even if a family member isn’t a match, Australia has a Kidney Paired Donation, where compatible pairs are matched across the country. Some exchanges involve up to eight donor-recipient pairs, all undergoing surgery at the same time.
“Living donation is often much more successful than deceased donation,” Veronica added. “People on the deceased donor list often still need dialysis after surgery. With live donation, the kidney starts working almost immediately. But if that is not an option deceased donation is also a wonderful alternative.”
Powerful message
The Hogans’ journey may have started with a diagnosis in infancy, but it has ended in hope, strength and a powerful message for DonateLife Week: “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” Veronica said. “Life is short, and if you can help your family or someone else by donating, don’t be afraid. The results speak for themselves.”
The minimum age to register as an organ donor is 16, but living donors must be over 30. To register your donation decision, visit donatelife.gov.au, visit your local neighbourhood house or scan the QR code being circulated on their social media pages and in “Buloke Times” advertising.
Awareness campaign
Throughout DonateLife week neighbourhood houses in Buloke will be running awareness raising campaigns supported by a DonateLife Community Awareness Grant made available to Charlton Neighbourhood House and funding from the Mallee Neighbourhood House Network.
DonateLife Week is more than just dates, it’s a chance to start vital conversations and give Australians the opportunity to say “yes” to donation.
Your decision could give someone a second lease on life.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 29 July 2025.
