Every year hundreds of Australians struggle with this very thought, perhaps as often as every day. How could you possibly thank a stranger that you will never meet, a stranger that is responsible for every heart beat, every breath, and every pulse of blood, every day for the rest of your life?

Sunday November 19 is Thank You Day, a time for every organ donation recipient to pause and reflect on that selfless act, and the respective individuals behind the greatest gift of all.

This week the Leader caught up with four lucky local organ recipients, and a family that in their darkest hours chose to find hope in helping others.

“In our darkest, saddest time, it gave us hope.”

Like all recipients the Donald family’s story also started with a phone call, although, unfortunately there was anything but good news on the other end.

Son, brother, and father, David had been hit by a car crossing a Sydney road. Shortly after doctors declared that he had no brain activity.

Dave’s sister, Ali Bath, is a teacher at Peel High and said that while they were never pressured or rushed, “it was always something we wanted to do right from the start.”

That decision was made even easier when it was discovered that in Dave’s wallet his license showed that he had chosen to be a donor.

“It gave us great comfort to know that someone else might get to live – we knew there was no hope for us, but that there might have been hope for some other families,” Mrs Bath said.

Two recipients received double transplants – one his “heart of a bull” and liver, and the other his kidney and pancreas, while a third recipient took the other kidney.

“We had to forgo being by Dave's side as he died as his heart needed to still be beating in order for the retrieval to be a success, however this was ok. We knew that another person out there would potentially be able to live due to our Dave, and that a part of him would always live on - his big heart would keep beating for someone else.”

Not longer after the family began to receive letters from all three recipients, and while “it is always bitter sweet”, the letters continue to bring great comfort.

“We get sent photos and letters of all the things that they can now do because of Dave – it is really special,” Mrs Bath said.

“We always have a laugh because they probably get the occasional uncontrollable urge to have a schooner, a chat, and a laugh in the local pub, but it is nice to know that a little bit of him lives on – especially the heart – somewhere it beats on.” 

“On the worst day of their life, in that sort of grief, they made the decision to help someone else – I can’t even begin to understand that.”

In 1990 Steve Gribben hit a Newcastle parlour for a tattoo, what he wasn’t banking on was contracting Hepatitis C.

“It wasn’t really heard of back then, so in 1992 when the doctor told me it was a death sentence I thought bullshit. But it almost was,” Mr Gribben said.

In 2013 Mr Gribben was told to “stop working or stop breathing”, and was put on the transfer list the following year.

“For 18 months every phone call had us jumping,” Mr Gribben said.

“At the same time you know when that call comes that someone has died, but if it doesn’t come you are going to die – it is a really bitter sweet feeling.” 

Just like Craig, Steve also had two “dry runs”, although in one week, but three months later it was the real deal.

“After the two false starts I thought I had missed out and started planning my funeral, but on January 23 2016 it all happened,” he said.

“It made a huge difference to how I felt instantly.” 

Mr Gribben’s thoughts turned instantly to the donor, and their family.

“I had all that time to think about what I would say in the letter, it took me over 50 drafts and five months – how do you say thanks for letting me live.”