Zaidee Rose Turner.
Contributed by Killara Lodge

For the past 16 years October has been the month, we the Brethren of Lodge Killara No 259, have remembered Zaidee Rose Alexander Turner, a 7- year-old little girl who had the foresight to bequeath her organs and tissue so that other children and adults could experience an enhanced quality of Life.

Brethren, those of us at Killara who previously purchased Rainbow Ties have worn them to all Lodge meetings throughout the month of October.

I again bring to your Notice that you are requested to wear your Rainbow Tie at our Zoom Meeting Thursday, October 1, 2020, and to all other Zoom meetings you may be attending for the month, as a mark of respect and to remember the wonderful gift Zaidee gave to others

Note: If at any time whilst wearing your Rainbow Coloured Tie, you are questioned by misinformed Brethren please relate Zaidee’s Story and Poem to them so they too may see the light.

Zaidee’s Story

Zaidee Rose Alexander Turner – aged 7 Years and 22 days died suddenly on

December 2, 2004 from a burst blood vessel in her brain, called a Cerebral Aneurism.

Zaidee’s parents, Kim and Allan, founded the Zaidee Rainbow Foundation not long after.

At the time of Zaidee’s death, the Turner family had been registered as Organ and Tissue Donors for five years. As a result, Zaidee donated her organs and tissue at the Royal Children’s Hospital, as were her wishes at the time.

From this gift, the lives of seven people (six children and one adult) were improved and in some cases saved.

Zaidee was the only child in Victoria under 16 years and we have been told one of the youngest Australians to donate her organs and tissue in 2004, she was 1 of 6 children nationally to donate their organs.

Zaidee’s story is directed towards both children and adults so they can think about others who are waiting for a suitable match and a lifesaving operation of organs and tissue.

Think about giving this gift to others so they can live a better life and, in some cases, have a second chance at life.

Zaidee’s gift of her organs to others have allowed them to have another birthday, 1 in 5 people on the transplant waiting list will never get the chance to have another birthday if people do not become registered donors.

This symbol is representative of hope; after every storm, the sun shines and there is a Rainbow. For these people on the transplant waiting list, the rainbow symbol offers them hope. As their rainbow is an organ or tissue to improve life – or in most cases – save their life.

Zaidee’s  Poem

When Zaidee was taken in for her final operation to be an Organ & Tissue Donor.

She did not need her bright blue eyes to see.

Nor her Lungs to Breath.

Her little Heart to pump blood around her tiny body.

Nor did she need her Kidneys or Liver again.

All Zaidee needed to take her to Heaven was the Love from her Mum, Dad and brother Jaz.

But other little children just down the hall in the same hospital did need her Heart and her Liver to live life again.

These kids are now home with their Mum’s and Dad’s, Brothers & Sister and Friends again.

Two little kids were able to see properly again, to see the faces of their Mum and Dad when they each received Zaidee’s cornea’s.

A newborn and an infant were given a second chance of life as they each received parts of Zaidee’s heart.

What Zaidee gave in in death was life to other children and a mother because we as a family discussed this before a death in our family years before just in case.

Our little girl Zaidee gave the greatest gift of all, her organs and tissues, she is now our Angel in Heaven who we are so very proud of for what she achieved in her short 7 years and 22 days of life that many of us will never do and that is to give life to others.

Zaidee’s Spirit and her Memory will live on and on.

Written by Zaidee’s Dad.