AT JUST 26, Heidi Gellert has experienced more highs and lows than most people do in their lifetime and has marked the 25th anniversary of her heart transplant reflecting on a life already filled with many milestones.
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Heidi, who grew up on her parents farm in Willaura and who now lives in Ararat, was at the time Australia's youngest heart transplant recipient, and unbelievably, just last year underwent yet another major operation, this time a kidney transplant in which her mother Annie was the live donor.
"During that time they really didn't know whether I was going to come out alive," -
- Heidi Gellert
Heidi's ground breaking heart transplant came amid a huge media storm, with her sister Megan born less than 24 hours after her transplant ensuring a hugely stressful, but nonetheless joyous, time for the family.
Recalling just the vaguest of media attention - Heidi was only 13 months old at the time - most of her memories of that time come from her parents, Annie and Geoff.
"Mum went into labour while I was having my heart transplant, and from reading the papers and talking to family, mum pretty much left the hospital at the very last minute, I think I'd just come out of the operating theatre," she said.
"Mum made a last minute dash and just got there in time and was pretty much chased up by cameras after it, so it wasn't very nice for her. You don't really need that media attention after you've gone through all that stress but of course you're going to be chased anyway."
Heidi spent two weeks in hospital and then a three month stay in Melbourne with daily and then less regular appointments as her health improved.
Reflecting on being Australia's youngest heart transplant recipient, Heidi said it was a blessing to have an organ donated, which was very rare.
Being the first baby to have a heart transplant, Heidi said sadly two died on the waiting list before her, but fortunately for her she was only on the heart transplant list for 27 days before a donor heart became available.
However, just five months after her successful heart transplant, Heidi had another battle to fight when she suffered a stroke following an infection around the heart which was followed by a nine week stay in the Intensive Care Unit.
"It was quite a major one and it was a lot of prayer that kept me alive," she said.
"During that time they really didn't know whether I was going to come out alive."
The family realised something was wrong when Annie picked Heidi up one morning and noticed she looked very 'yellow', and she was rushed to a nearby hospital.
The doctors at the time gave her a 'zero chance' of survival, but if, 'by some miracle', she did survive her family was told she would have severe physical and mental problems.
Defying the odds, Heidi eventually recovered although she did lose about 50 percent of her eye sight and suffered kidney damage and remains on medication for both her heart and to protect against further stroke and epilepsy.
Over the ensuing years Heidi enjoyed her childhood and time growing up on the farm with her sisters Megan and Josie, with all three girls home schooled for the majority of their schooling and Heidi taking up competitive cycling.
However, last year Heidi faced yet another challenge, a kidney transplant.
Because of the kidney damage caused by the stroke Heidi has always had kidney problems, but the kidneys deteriorated to the point of her needing regular dialysis, which she endured daily for a year up until her transplant.
The peritoneal dialysis involved connecting herself to dialysis in bed every night for nine hours, something which she found difficult to comprehend enduring for years on end.
"Of course it's got its hassles and it could be worse, if you've got diabetes you can't give yourself dialysis like I did," she said.
Fortunately her mother Annie was a match and was able to donate her kidney, with the operation taking place in August last year.
Fast forward five months, Heidi is now well enough to consider getting back into one of the things she loves most in life - competitive cycling - as well as securing permanent work.
The difficulties Heidi has endured during her life have not stopped her cycling competitively, even competing for Australia on the bike in the World Transplant Games on three occasions, bringing home one gold and four silver medals over a four year period
She competed in Canada in 2005 in the five kilometre time trial and 20 kilometre road race, winning silver in both, in Thailand in 2007 where she won gold in the 20 kilometre road race and silver in the five kilometre time trial, while in 2009 the games were held on the Gold Coast in Australia where she competed in the 20km race, winning silver despite having the flu and with her kidneys beginning to cause problems.
"I wasn't really that smart, I knew I was a bit crook when I was doing that last race. I could still cycle even though I wasn't well and it was only afterwards that I found out I had the flu. I think cycling with flu was pretty dumb and of course by then my kidneys were starting to play up," she said.
"Now I've got rid of the flu and I've got kidneys that work so we'll see what happens!"
While Heidi has ambitions to compete in Argentina at the World Transplant Games this year, she won't be going against doctor's orders.
"I'm seeing a few improvements, but mum doesn't want me to get back into cycling, and I'm not totally convinced I'm well enough," she said.
"I need to get my doctor's opinion but if I was able to I would be tempted to go. I've noticed I'm more fit and I've improved in my times but I won't get too cocky.
"I'd better have mum's approval if I'm being honest, I've got to be a bit considerate especially seeing as she was very good and got me off dialysis!"
"I've always been blessed to have a very supportive family I guess as I'm getting older I see I just took it for granted."
Currently easing her way into training, Heidi is now undertaking 10km rides.
Another of Heidi's goals is securing work now that her health is improving and she hopes to work in either retail or hospitality.
Heidi is also encouraging people to sign up to the donor register.
"I can understand a lot don't even think about it twice, and to be fair if I hadn't had one it wouldn't have even occurred to me. But it's a different story when I'm seeing people who need it.
"There is such a shortage of organs here in Australia."
Throughout all the challenges she has faced Heidi has always maintained a positive attitude, which she credits with her Christian upbringing and listening to Christian radio stations.
"I'd like to think it helps listening to Christian radio stations, you get good tips and advice for helping you deal with difficulties in life and if you put them into practise it really helps change your attitude," she said.
"It teaches you to focus on what you do have rather than what you don't have."
Heidi also finds comfort in beginning each day by repeating her favourite verse from the Bible: This is the day that the lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it.
With her kidney transplant behind her and cycling and a new job ahead of her, Heidi is looking forward to the future and will continue to carry with her that positive attitude.
"I'm certainly not the only sick person it the world, everyone has their problems, and of course I'm not the only person who has had a transplant at a young age and is fighting those side effects for the rest of their lives," she said.
"But having said that I'm really blessed with all the things I am able to do and like I said my future goal is to get a job and depending how I go I would like to be able to cycle competitively again if I was fit enough."