In 2019, Kate Hansen received a call that changed her life. It was from a family who’d agreed to donate their loved one’s organs—a kidney and pancreas—to her.
At the time, Kate, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a child, was having dialysis three times a week.
She describes the double organ donation as life-saving. Becoming a double transplant recipient meant Kate could pursue the life she wanted and go on to fulfill her dream of becoming a mum.
Fast forward to 2025, and 38-year-old Kate is the mum of Harley, a two-year-old boy who was born 13 weeks early and fought for his life in hospital over a period of five months. He was born with a congenital heart defect and required surgery to close a valve in his heart when he was three months old.
During this time, Kate was supported by her employer, Ray White, to become a licensed real estate agent. She now works in property management and business development at Ray White Altona. The road to achieving this career wasn’t easy amid all the health issues facing her family.
“I was pregnant with twins and Blake didn’t survive,” Kate said.
“My pregnancy was always going to be high-risk and I started to develop pre-eclampsia.
“We lost Blake in the second trimester, around 20 weeks’ gestation, and I was admitted into hospital for the last eight weeks of my pregnancy.”
Kate also suffered a stroke when Harley was discharged from hospital and not long after, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Now, her health is back on track and Harley is well. She says she values the work-life balance she has in her real estate career, which allows her to spend time with her family.
“I don’t take ‘no’ for an answer and I have had to work hard to get where I am,” she said.
“I studied for my diploma with one eye, as my eye turned from the stroke. The neonatal nurses called me a ‘pirate mum’.
“I just keep striving to achieve my goals.
“Doctors told me I would never walk or talk or be able to work in my industry but with the support of my team I have been able to achieve my goals.”