‘On Borrowed Time’ encourages zest for life
The book pays homage to Gunston Padayachee who throughout his life did not use his illness as an excuse, but saw it rather as an opportunity to strive and be the voice of organ donation and its success.
Former Umzinto resident, Poovie Padayachee, recently launched a book, ‘On Borrowed Time’, at the Umkomaas town hall in memory of her late husband, Gunston.
It took Poovie five years to write and release this book, which documents her husband’s journey as a kidney transplant recipient, his trials and tribulations with his health, his teaching career which spanned 30 years, his experiences with health issues and how he coped, the community work he did and his participation in the World Transplant Games.
Delving deeper into the book, one can see that it is also a love story of a man who loved not only his family, but also his community and life in general. The myths and facts of organ donations are also featured in the book.
I hope to use this book to inspire and motivate others, especially those with life-threatening diseases, to tell them that there is hope and you have to make conscious decisions to live your best life. You will achieve nothing if you wallow in self-pity. Gunston showed through his life experiences that anything is possible.
The book was also released in Pietermaritzburg earlier this month as it is ‘organ donor’ month as well as women’s month.
The late Gunston Padayachee was diagnosed with renal failure when he was 27.
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His kidney functioned at less than 10 percent and haemodialysis began at the age of 30 in August 1990. Even though he was on dialysis, Gunston continued his work as a teacher, sports co-ordinator and athletics coach. It was in May 1992 that he received a kidney transplant.
“Doctors said that the kidney would last for up to 10 years as it was an unrelated donor, but he proved them wrong and lived for another 21 years. He died on June 18, 2013 at age 53,” said Poovie.
Throughout his life, Gunston did not use his illness as an excuse, but saw it rather as an opportunity to strive and be the voice of organ donation and its success. Gunston also then suffered from cancer and various other complications, which he still rose above in order to live the best life he could possibly live.
He was a gentle soul who always put everyone else’s needs before his own.
He launched the Pietermaritzburg branch of the Kidney Association, was the public relations officer and executive member of the Midlands High Schools’ Sports Association, chairman of the KwaZulu-Natal Transplant Games Association and vice-chairman of the South African Transplant Games Association as well as captain of the South African transplant team.
Poovie began writing ‘On Borrowed Time’ after her husband had died and hopes to encourage others to become potential organ donors as her late husband had his life extended a whole 21 years through the success of the organ transplant.
The book’s main target audience is people with life-threatening diseases. “I want to encourage people to live their best life and stop feeling sorry for themselves and to conquer adversity with a positive mind,” explained Poovie,
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“This a remarkable story of one man’s determination and will to conquer adversity and to live true to Napoleon Hill’s famous words – ‘Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve’.”
Poovie said the death of her husband had left a void that could never be filled, but before he died, he had taught her and their family how to enjoy and experience life, which is what she portrays in her writing.
Should you want to pick up this read, the book is available online on Kindle, Smash and Amazon.
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