Five years ago , I didn’t even really know what a kidney did. But I sure found out when my kidneys failed in 2007. At first they thought I might recover, but then it became clear I needed a kidney transplant. I couldn’t even comprehend what that even meant for quite some time because I was so weak. Moment to moment became my reality.
I am one of the really lucky ones . I had more than one person offer me a kidney. So I was able to dodge the dialysis bullet, because it was just a matter of finding a match.
I would love to say thank you to my brother Sandy, son Kevin , his partner Sonja, Friends- Corry, Wendy , Char, Darlene, Gail , Jana and Kelly who all said they would step up to the plate for me. That in itself is pretty overwhelming . Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!!
My husband and daughter were tested first, but because of physical limitations they were not a match. The third person tested was my long time BFF – Kathryn Gail Casimer and she was a match. The transplant happened at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver June 21, 2010. After one year I can say I feel pretty much back to my old self – something I couldn’t even imagine.
I am one of the lucky ones – There are almost 500 people on dialysis and on the transplant list In British Columbia that don’t have anyone to give them a kidney and they depend on those that have signed their donor card. Because of this – the average wait for a transplant is 6 years and many die before that happens.
In BC. 85% of people agree that it is a good idea to sign their donor card but only 17% actually sign.
That’s why I wrote this song:
RECYCLE YOUR LIFE
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PLEASE SIGN YOUR DONOR CARD. – www.transplant.bc.ca
