Double-lung transplant recipient Johnnie Tumai's plea for Christmas organ donors

How do you thank someone for saving your life?

That's the question 59-year-old truck driver Johnnie Tumai grapples with every day since his double-lung transplant — or as he calls it, the "best Christmas present" he's ever had.

"There's not a day that goes by that I don't thank my donor," he says.

"It's such a precious gift."

In October 2024, the Queenslander, originally from New Zealand, received his new lungs — and a new lease on life.

Before the surgery, he required oxygen 24 hours a day and even then, could barely walk 3 metres.

But arriving at his Rockhampton home on Boxing Day last year, he "couldn't wait to do things".

More than a year on from his surgery, he's looking forward to spending his first Christmas at home with his new lungs — and is urging others to consider becoming donors.

According to DonateLife, about 50 people die each year waiting for a transplant, and one organ donor can save the lives of up to seven people.

One of the organisation's donation specialists, Josephine Reoch, said Christmas was the perfect time to consider registering as a donor, so families could make the decision "during the good times".

"That's a much easier discussion to have around the Christmas table than to have in a hospital waiting room," she said.

Journey to health

More than 10 years ago, Mr Tumai began feeling unwell and reluctantly saw a doctor after encouragement from his boss.

After having a cyst on his lung removed, his health continued to deteriorate, and he was diagnosed with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive and preventable lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe.

He quit smoking and tried to secure a spot on the waiting list for a lung transplant.

"It was a no-brainer because the doctors only gave me two years to live," he said.

"I wouldn't go out, I'd isolate myself here, I'd have to sit down to shower."

It was a rigorous process, involving a lot of physiotherapy.

"[My physio] she's just been fantastic, we crashed heads. I didn't want to go, and I used to get stubborn," he said.

"They were pushing me, they were going, 'Come on, you can do this, you need this.'

"Now I've watched a lot of people go through there, and some don't make it. I look at myself and think how lucky I am."

New lease on life

Early last year, he and partner Vicky Saunderson moved 600 kilometres to Brisbane to be close to Prince Charles Hospital if the opportunity for a transplant arose.

Within six months, he received three calls for possible transplants that did not eventuate.

Then, at two o'clock one morning, he received a call that would change his life.

After the surgery, he lost a lot of blood and returned to the operating theatre twice, waking up three days later.

Following an intensive period of recovery and rehabilitation, he returned home months later and was back at work by August.

As he continues with his rehabilitation and regular check-ups, he urged other men to quit smoking, take charge of their health and not to be stubborn.

"A lot of men seriously need to go and get a health check. It's so important," he says.

Donors needed

So far this year in Queensland, there have been 22 lung transplants, with 17 people on the waiting list, according to DonateLife.

Wait times can be up to two years, depending on patient matching.

The organisation says about eight in 10 families agree to donation when loved ones are registered, but that figure drops to four in 10 when they don't know their family member's wishes.

"When I go in and speak with a family, I just want them to be able to hear the information that I have to give them and be able to make a decision that they would make on any other day," Ms Reoch said.

"A decision that they'll be comfortable with in six weeks, six months or six years."

She says the only eligibility criteria for registering as an organ donor are to be over 16.

People can register themselves via their Medicare account or the DonateLife website.