Anita Lindskog -- Sweden

Age: 54

Transplant: Liver, 1994

Hometown: Stockholm

Events: Golf

Anita's Story: Thank you, Mr. Maurice Slapak; I now have the opportunity to attend the World Transplant Games. I look forward to meeting colleagues from many parts of the world, not only for competition, but also for friendship and the possibility for discussions about situations internationally.

When I got my liver, it was very dramatic. I was not aware of the grave danger my life was in, as I was unconscious after a very rapidly grown hepatitis B infection. I was working hard at my office on a Friday in September 1994. On Sunday I was unconscious (some of the medical proposals were poisoning from some sort of a toadstool!), and I was transferred to our transplant experts at Huddinge Hospital in Stockholm. The situation was serious and the hospital asked for international help to find a new liver, as I had only 70 hours to live, unless I got a new liver. The situation for my family was terrible. But somebody was looking after me and was thinking that my time had not yet come. I got a liver after 58 hours and today I am on my way to Australia for competition.

My Message to the World:  Today I have a new prospective on my life. Of course, it is even more valuable and I have broadened my thinking and not buryed myself in details. A good piece of advice to my family, friends, and customers is to take it easy, be good to each other, be generous, and of course, give permission to donate your organs. Give support to your colleagues and try to get them out on the sport course. I can imagine that my earlier interest in sports (I have always been skiing, playing squash, sailing, and golfing) has helped me to get well very quickly.

I am also very concerned about the future research in medicine and surgery, and we keep our fingers crossed that the result will be even better and make it possible for us to reduce our medicines. My thinking is of course also with my donor, an older woman, who made it possible for me to have a second life.

As I am working in the marketing and communications area, I have possibilities to use some of my own experience in my job.