JOHN Oudyn didn’t live to see the benefits of his donation, but his family feel honoured to see it at work.
Mr Oudyn donated $9000 to buy a special piece of equipment (a SOZO machine) that measures swelling in legs or arms in cancer patients.
Cairns Hospital Cancer Care Centre Advanced Occupational Therapist Kari Meehan said she was treating Mr Oudyn as he had developed leg swelling or lymphedema as a side effect of cancer treatment.
“During a therapy session, he was discussing with his treating therapist the various assessment tools available to measure swelling and began to discuss bioimpedance spectroscopy technology which measures fluid sitting outside the cells of the body. I mentioned a new device that could measure swelling in bilateral legs or arms – previous technology only allowed the measurement of ECG in a single leg or arm,” Ms Meehan said.
“He approached the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation about donating the funds to buy this newer technology and we were able to tell him before he died that it had been bought, so that was a great feeling for him to know that he was able to make a difference to other patients,” she said.
John’s daughter Jane said it was an honour to see the SOZO machine and how it worked and to learn that it was helping so many people across Far North Queensland.
“Dad was always thinking of others and would have been so happy to see this amazing machine and how it is helping others. My brother Andy and I wish he could have been there to see it with us, but we know that wherever he is, he is looking down proudly at what his donation contributed to achieve,” Ms Oudyn said.
The SOZO device allows those at risk of developing lymphoedema to have a pre surgery/treatment baseline taken to improve early identification and intervention for lymphoedema in bilateral upper and lower limbs. For those who already have lymphoedema it provides another tool to help guide treatment and more accurately monitor/control what can be a chronic/lifelong condition, leading to improved quality of life and outcomes.
“Due to Mr Oudyn’s incredibly generous donation, patients of Far North Queensland who have, or at risk of developing lymphoedema in both legs or arms, we are able to identify issues earlier, leading to reduced intensity of treatment, improved outcomes and quality of life,” Ms Meehan said.
Foundation CEO Tony Williamson said the loss of a loved one was always painful but to know that the person’s memory would live on through their donation, was special.
“We are quite honoured to be able to facilitate donations like this that will make a difference to patients for years to come,” Mr Williamson said.
Photos: John Oudyn
John's children Andy and Jane with the SOZO and Cairns Hospital Cancer Care Centre Advanced Occupational Therapist Kari Meehan.
