The important cause that brought Ally Langdon to tears
Ally Langdon teared up on Thursday's episode of A Current Affair during a heartfelt segment on organ donation.
The host was discussing Jersey Day with Michael Gremmo, a father who had lost his 13-year-old son Nathan after he was critically injured when crossing the road in 2014.
Nathan went on to become an organ donor - a decision that saved six lives, including a baby.
Now his father is honouring his son's legacy by encouraging others to have the important conversation about organ and tissue donation with loved ones.
"Nathan, as most organ donors are, are healthy, fit, young people and their lives are just taken from them," Michael said.
"Dealing with Nathan not coming back, that's the hardest, but we wanted something positive to come out of a horrible situation."
The A Current Affair host fought back tears as she recalled how her own sister's life was saved after receiving a pancreas-kidney transplant in 2014.
"My sister is alive because of someone as special as Nathan and there’s not a day goes by that we don’t as a family think about them and think about their grief."
“Thank you,” Langtold told Michael tearfully.
Michael replied: “Nathan hasn’t died in vain. He’s given life. And you’ve got your sister here because of a generous donor. And it’s not just the donor, it’s their family too. When you’re in that situation it’s hard.”
Langdon then encouraged viewers to "have the conversation" about organ donation with loved ones of all ages.
"Tell your family your wishes, because the final decision is theirs," she said.
Michael said despite his son's young age, Nathan had talked about organ donation and expressed his desire to be one before his passing.
“It’s not a conversation you usually have or want to have with young children,” Michael said.
"Nathan had actually had a conversation with us, he watched a program on TV and it was about organ recipients ... he sat us down and spoke to us about that.
"And yeah, we just talked about what a wonderful gift that would be."
Jersey Day falls on Friday August 30, during which students and employees at schools and workplaces across the country are encouraged to wear their favourite jersey and have the important conversation about organ donation with their loved ones.
"It's not just the lives of the organ recipient [you save], it's the families behind that too that, you know, you don't realise how many people are affected," Michael said.
"I suppose that's why Jersey Day is so special as it's about awareness and getting it out there and having that important conversation."
To register as an organ and tissue donor, visit donatelife.gov.au.
Images: A Current Affair/ Nine