Consider becoming a donor on World Kidney Day

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/03/2021 (1899 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Recently someone very close to me lost a good friend she had known for many years. A young girl passed away, way before her time.

The person I know was devastated when she found out. Her friend had been on life support for a few days. There was no brain activity and, unfortunately, there was nothing doctors could do. She was gone. The family graciously decided to donate her organs.

With this donation, she helped save the lives and vision of 20 people. Twenty people from just one amazing donation.

Losing someone you love can be devastating. How do you continue on? Does donating the organs make things easier? I think so. Just knowing that part of your loved one lives on in others; there has to be some comfort knowing other lives were saved.

I’m not sure if it was the young girl’s decision to be an organ donor or the choice of the family. But it was a wonderful decision. It’s the one good thing that can come from losing a loved one. Knowing they saved lives, changed lives and gave people a chance at a normal life.

That is why it is so important to register your intent online at signupforlife.ca 

It only takes a few minutes and your health card.

Registering online can help make the decision for your family much easier. They will know exactly what you wanted when you can no longer use your organs.

Organ donation is the last great thing you will ever do.

March is National Kidney Month, and World Kidney Day is March 11.

• Did you know most people are born with two kidneys? But some can be born with three;
• You can live a completely normal life with only one kidney. That’s why you can be a live donor and donate one kidney; 
• When you have a kidney transplant you only receive one kidney; 
• Kidneys are a wonderful donation because you can help two people instead of one.

I recently celebrated my anniversary with my transplanted kidney. So far I have been given five amazing years of living a normal life, free from machines to keep me alive.

I think about my donor every day and the gift they gave to me. The freedom they gave me. And every day how lucky I am.

You have the power to change lives by becoming a donor. You can be someone’s hero.

Jennifer Laferriere is a community correspondent for Garden City.