Sarah game for life in Geelong sports carnival

Andrew Mathieson
LIVER transplant recipient Sarah Green lives every day like it’s her last.
“Anything I want to do now, I just go ahead and do it,” she said.
On the eve of the National Transplant Games in Geelong, the 31-year-old is now prepared to try her hand at anything.
Snooker, volleyball, ten-pin bowling, a 20-kilometre cycle and a range of athletics events, she said, were all under consideration this year.
Her can-do attitude is a reflection that life now is pretty good.
“I’ve always grown up playing sport because I was pretty healthy before my transplant,” Sarah said, “so this is a good opportunity to get back into sport and help spread the word about organ donation.”
Despite a healthy facade, the mother-of-two still counts herself lucky after facing an uncertain future at 18.
Sarah’s life hung in the balance after she slipped into a coma following unexpected liver failure.
“I was doing everything – the real active life you have at that age,” she said.
“I didn’t realise until I’d woken up what happened and apparently I slipped into a coma three or four days before the transplant and I was given 24 hours to live.
“I didn’t know any of that until afterwards.
“I was in a little bit of shock at first, but then you move on with life and make the most of it.”
Sarah will be among hundreds of athletes from across Australia competing in the games from tomorrow until September 23.