A Second Chance: Jaylyn Rongo’s Story

Article written by Lucy Stokes

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“It was really hard for a seventeen-year-old to comprehend.” 

In late 2020, Jaylyn was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease affecting the heart muscle that can significantly impact the heart’s ability to pump blood around the body. What initially began as a frightening diagnosis quickly escalated into a critical medical situation as his condition deteriorated at an alarming rate, forcing him to confront realities that most young people cannot even begin to imagine. 

As his health declined, the conversations he was having with doctors became increasingly urgent and he was faced with devastating news that no teenager should ever have to hear.  

“I was told that if I didn’t get a heart transplant in the next week, I probably wasn’t going to make it.” 

At just 17 years old, Jaylyn found himself waiting for a donor heart, knowing that his survival depended entirely on a decision another family might be asked to make during one of the most difficult moments of their lives. In early 2021, that decision came, and with it the gift that would save his life.  

More than five years later, Jaylyn’s story serves as a powerful reminder not only of the life-saving impact of organ donation, but also of the opportunities, achievements and everyday moments that can exist on the other side of transplantation. Now 23, he lives a life that would surprise many people who assume organ recipients face ongoing limitations. He trains regularly, spends time in the gym, runs almost every day and is currently preparing to compete in the Australian Transplant Games, a celebration of resilience, recovery and second chances that showcases the success of transplant surgery while highlighting the ongoing need for greater awareness of organ and tissue donation.  

“I can pretty much do anything that I could do before,” he says. 

For Jaylyn, challenging misconceptions about what life after transplantation actually looks like has become an important part of his advocacy. While many people understand that organ donation saves lives, fewer realise that recipients can often return to activities they once feared might no longer be possible, rebuilding not only their health but also their aspirations, relationships and sense of identity. 

Perhaps even more surprising is the fact that before finding himself in desperate need of a donor heart, organ donation was not something Jaylyn had given much thought to at all. Like many young Australians, it felt distant, irrelevant and disconnected from his everyday life, which meant conversations about donation simply never happened.  

“I wasn’t signed up as an organ donor. I didn’t even think twice about it. If someone asked me, I probably would have brushed them off.”  

His perspective changed profoundly after his transplant, particularly during the months of recovery when he had the opportunity to reflect on both the fragility of life and the extraordinary generosity that had given him a future. It was during this period that the nurses who had cared for him throughout his treatment approached him about becoming involved with DonateLife Queensland. Having witnessed his journey firsthand and recognising the impact his story could have on others, they encouraged him to consider sharing his experience as a way of raising awareness and helping more people understand the importance of organ donation.  

“I’ve always wanted to volunteer, but I’ve never really had something to volunteer for. But I knew this is what I wanted to do.” 

What began as a willingness to tell his story has since evolved into years of dedicated advocacy, with Jaylyn becoming one of DonateLife Queensland’s most visible and influential ambassadors. Whether he is speaking at schools, universities, community events or public awareness campaigns, his focus remains firmly on helping people make informed decisions about organ donation while ensuring younger audiences understand that the issue is far more relevant to their lives than they might initially assume. 

His commitment has already made a significant impact. He featured prominently during DonateLife Week 2023, appeared on House of Wellness and was recently named Queensland Youth Volunteer of the Year. He is also a founding member of the DonateLife Queensland Youth Advisory Group and sits on the Metro South Health Youth Advisory Council, helping shape how young people’s voices are represented within the healthcare system. 

At the heart of all this work is a simple goal.  

“I just want to inform people and make sure that people are making the decision with the right information.”   

When speaking to young audiences, Jaylyn has learnt that statistics rarely change minds on their own. What resonates is the reality that serious illness does not always arrive with warning signs and can affect people who appear perfectly healthy.  

“When I tell kids I was playing footy, I was really sporty and healthy, I think that gets through to them,” he says. “Kids think they are healthy and have nothing to worry about, but there are things that can happen behind the scenes that can affect you.”  

It is a message that carries weight because he is living proof of it. Before his diagnosis, there was nothing remarkable about his health story. He was active, fit and focused on all the things that matter to a teenager. Yet within months, he had become someone whose future depended entirely on the generosity of a donor and their family.  

His story is not one of a life cut short, but of what becomes possible when organ donation transforms what could have been a tragedy into a future full of opportunity.  

“I’ve gotten so many opportunities that I wouldn’t have had before. I’ve gotten the work we’ve done at DonateLife.” 

Despite everything transplantation has allowed him to achieve, Jaylyn speaks about his donor and their family with remarkable humility. There is no sense of entitlement or ownership over the gift he received, only deep gratitude and a desire to honour it through the way he lives his life.  

“I would just want them to know that they’ve given a young kid the opportunity to help more people and do greater with the gift that they’ve given me.”  

He does not see his transplant as something that comes with an obligation to live for somebody else. Instead, he believes the best way to honour his donor is by embracing every opportunity he has been given and making the most of the life that was returned to him.  

“I feel like personally my donor would want me to live my life to the fullest instead of living it for them. So that’s what I try and do. I try to just do as much as I can.”  

That philosophy has recently inspired a new chapter in his journey through the launch of his clothing brand, 2ndChnc, a name that reflects both his personal experience and the message he hopes to share with others.  

“I’ve always been into fashion ever since I was a kid and always had the idea that I wanted to do something with it, but I never really materialised it. As soon as I had my heart transplant, I knew that this would be something that I could do that would fulfil my goals but also help people.”  

The brand was created with a clear purpose: to start conversations about organ donation among a generation that often does not think about it. By combining his passion for fashion with his lived experience, Jaylyn hopes to create opportunities for discussion in places where the topic might not otherwise come up.  

“Young people really are into fashion these days, so I thought that would be a good way to break in.”  

More than a clothing label, 2ndChnc is an extension of the advocacy work that has become such a central part of Jaylyn’s life. It seeks to challenge the perception that organ donation is an issue for older people and encourages younger Australians to engage with the topic long before they are personally affected by it.  

His message is ultimately the same message he wishes more people could hear before a life-changing diagnosis forces them to see things differently. Take the time to learn about organ donation. Make an informed decision. Have the conversation with your family and the people closest to you. Because while most of us hope we will never need a transplant, none of us can predict what lies ahead.  

Jaylyn’s story is a reminder that organ donation is not simply about saving lives in the moment. It is about creating futures that otherwise would not exist. Every milestone he has reached since receiving his transplant, from becoming an award-winning advocate and volunteer to launching his own business and inspiring thousands of young Queenslanders through his story, is only possible because one family made an extraordinary decision during an extraordinarily difficult time.  

That is the work DonateLife Queensland strives to make visible every day. DonateLife Queensland coordinates organ and tissue donor activities across the state, working alongside hospitals, specialist medical and nursing teams, donor families and volunteers to support donation services, raise awareness and encourage more Queenslanders to have conversations about donation. The organisation also relies on a dedicated network of volunteers known as Community Champions, including transplant recipients, donor families and community members who help share real stories and promote understanding across Queensland.  

For Jaylyn, those conversations are where real change begins. Registering your decision is important, but ensuring your family knows and understands your wishes is equally important. By taking the time to learn about organ and tissue donation, make an informed choice and discuss that choice with the people who matter most, you could one day provide the same second chance that transformed his life. 

“Now that I’ve witnessed it firsthand,” he says, “it definitely changes my perspective. And I’m definitely grateful for that.”