Royal Darwin Hospital thanked local restaurant Little Miss Korea (LMK) today for their amazing effort in raising more than $12,000 for the hospital during their recent Dinner Under the Stars fundraising event.

LMK chef and owner Chung Jae Lee and his wife Sam decided to hold the event after Chung Jae received a life-changing kidney transplant in November 2016. Chung Jae’s life has significantly improved since his transplant. No longer having to attend arduous dialysis appointments each week, he is able to get back to life with his family.

Dr William Majoni, Specialist Physician at the Royal Darwin Hospital Department of Nephrology, expressed his gratitude at a small thank you event at RDH today, announcing that the funds will contribute to the purchase of new specialist equipment.

“We would like to thank Sam and Chung Jae for their generosity and support and congratulate them on their first successful fundraising event,” Dr Majoni said.

“At the request of the donors the $12,000 will be put towards the purchase of specialist equipment to monitor the level of medications that are given to people with transplants to prevent their body rejecting the kidney.

“Currently, blood samples are sent interstate which can take up to 48 hours which can increase the risk of rejection or loss of transplanted kidneys and an increase in the dose of medication which may not always be necessary with more efficient testing.

“Performing the tests locally will provide a faster turnaround on results, better decision making and better care for our patients.

“They will be able to get back to their normal lives and work, travel and live back in their communities with their families as soon as possible without having to come to Darwin for these tests.”

Royal Darwin Hospital works closely with Donate Life NT to increase the number of Territorians registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register. Registering will allow family members to know each other’s wishes regarding organ and tissue donation and continues to be a priority in 2017.

Currently less than 12% of Territorians are registered on the Australian Organ Donor Register.

For more information please visit www.donatelife.gov.au.

Image caption: L-R Pamela Wood Director of Nursing Renal Integration Project, Dr William Majoni Specialist Physician Department of Nephrology, Kerry Dole Renal Transplant Clinical Nurse Consultant and Chung Jae Lee.

Image credit: Regis Martin, RDH.

Media contact: Rickie Abraham 0419 818 414