Just before Christmas, I spotted what follows on Facebook, posted by Yvonne Langlois, who is in the Lower Mainland of B.C., and waiting, waiting, waiting and hoping for a kidney transplant. She provides an awfully good overview of what it’s like to be in her position, especially because of the role antibodies are playing.
Here it is, in her words, with a minimum amount of editing; the ALL CAPS are hers:
“I thought that I would share this again to bring attention to the critical need for Living Donor Kidney transplants.
“My kidney doctor, Dr. Gil from St. Paul’s Hospital, called last week for an update on my health and to let me know where I was on the (transplant) list. I have being doing (hemo-)dialysis three times a week for over eight years, traveling to Abbotsford and Vancouver and even Mission for tests.
“I am near the top BUT unfortunately it is my high antibodies holding me back.
“What are high antibodies? They protect my body from infections and anything foreign that might harm me, They would see a kidney and basically try to reject it.
“I need a kidney that has HIGH ANTIBODIES that (will) get along with mine.
“I asked Dr. Gil: ‘Where do you find one of these?’
“Well he said — and this is exactly what he said — ‘SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT LOOK LIKE YOU.’
“ ‘Oh . . .,’ I said, ‘you mean somebody from a different culture than me.’
“ ‘Yes,’ he said.
“ ‘This is so funny,’ I told him.
“If we all did DNA testing we would find out we all have so many old families from all over the world in our histories. Is that not true of your family. All of our ancestors were nomads all over the world . . . no borders!
“Anyway . . . what I am asking . . . no, pleading for from all of you reading this is ‘Could you find a small place in your heart to think about sharing one of your precious kidneys with me if it matches, or with someone else?’
“It really is the very best gift you ever could give. Age is not a factor in those that need or those that give.
“If you belong to any churches or clubs please pass this message on.
“I am asking everyone to look into the Living Donor Program. It is the greatest gift you will ever give. Actually, I am being selfish as there is a need for all kinds of organ donors.
“Please, please sign up to be a Living Organ Donor. You are able to do that at www.blood.ca.
“Merry Christmas everyone out there.
“Stay safe and Happy Holidays.”
I noticed this tweet on Dec. 23 . . .
This would be the first human organ transplant of any kind that resulted in long-term survival. . . . Bryan Marquard of the Boston Globe wrote on Dec. 30, 2010, that Richard, who was to receive a kidney from his identical twin, Ronald, wasn’t sure he wanted to go through with it. Ronald’s wife, Cynthia, told Marquard: “Ron got a note from Richard the night of the surgery telling him to get out of there and go home. Ron sent a note back saying, I’m here, and I’m going to stay, and that’s it.” . . . The brothers were 23 years of age. . . . After surgery, Richard lived for eight more years, at least seven years more than previous transplant recipients. . . . Ronald, who had heart issues later in life, died in December 2010 after undergoing heart surgery in October. . . . Marquard’s story is right here.
If you are interested in being a living kidney donor, more information is available here:
Living Kidney Donor Program
St. Paul’s Hospital
6A Providence Building
1081 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6
Tel: 604-806-9027
Toll free: 1-877-922-9822
Fax: 604-806-9873
Email: donornurse@providencehealth.bc.ca
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Vancouver General Hospital Living Donor Program – Kidney
Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre
Level 5, 2775 Laurel Street
Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9
604-875-5182 or 1-855-875-5182
kidneydonornurse@vch.ca
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Or, for more information, visit right here.
Do good, feel good! Register to be an organ donor and get that warm fuzzy feeling. 1 organ donor can save up to 8 lives. Taketwominutes.ca #TakeTwoMinutes
TAKING NOTE 