South Australian Angels Recognized in Fight Against Kidney Disease

One of Australia's leading transplant surgeons, South Australia's oldest kidney donor and the recipient of the second kidney transplant thirty five years ago will be inducted today as Kidney Health Australia Angels for their contribution to reducing the burden of kidney disease in Australia, in what is expected to be an emotional reunion.

Leading South Australian surgeon Associate Professor Mohan Rao will become an angel alongside a recent patient Gerry Hancock, a seventy year retired business man who donated a kidney to his granddaughter Candice.

The Operation Angel induction will take place this morning at Parliament House in Adelaide, with details being officially released on the Kidney Health Australia's website.

Ms Anne Wilson, Chief Executive of Kidney Health Australia said: "The official recognition of such a diverse range of people from so many walks of life reveals the many faces of kidney disease of which one in three Australians is at risk."

"Operation Angel recognizes and promotes the work and care carried out by hundreds of people daily in hospitals and medical clinics to assist over fourteen thousand Australians to remain alive on dialysis.

"It also recognizes the commitment of family, friends and work colleagues of kidney patients."

Diane Schulze is 55 years 'young' and is a mother and a creative home economist. She was transplanted with a kidney in September 1971 at the age of 20 and her transplant is the second longest lasting kidney transplant in South Australia.

Associate Professor Mohan Rao was the first trainee in renal transplantation surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital from January 1968 to January 1971. Trained by Mr. Peter Knight who started the transplant program in Adelaide, Mohan Rao has now completed some 2000 transplant procedures. In recognition of his role in initiating renal transplantation in India, he was awarded 'Life Time Achievement Award' by the Indian Society of Organ Transplantation in 1997.

Associate Professor Mohan Rao is sure to recognise the third angel Gerry Hancock, a retired businessman from Flagstaff Hill, who became the oldest South Australian live donor when at the age of 70, he donated a kidney to his eldest grandchild, Candice.