GILLIAN Anderson, of Mortdale, is helping people with intestinal failure lead productive lives.
Ms Anderson volunteers with Parenteral Nutrition Down Under, a support for people reliant on parenteral nutrition (PN).
PN is liquid food delivered to the body through an intravenous catheter.
Mrs Anderson was diagnosed with intestinal failure nine years ago, but is well enough to also eat solid food.
Around 215 Australians have intestinal failure, which occurs when the digestive system does not absorb nutrients properly.
Various illnesses are attributed to intestinal failure including short bowel syndrome, Hirschsprung's disease, gastroparesis and Crohns disease.
Mrs Anderson was for a long time the only PN patient at St George Hospital, Kogarah, but she now knows of two others on PN.
Home Parenteral Nutrition Week, from August 2 to 8, is to increase awareness of PN.
"I owe HPN my life, and am extremely grateful for the wonderful care that I've received from my doctors and nurses at St George Hospital," Mrs Anderson said.
Details: pndu.org
