Assist with a Live Kidney Donation!
Donation protected
Our niece, Heather Tymo, is about to embark on a very selfless journey. In July she will be donating one of her kidneys to a young woman who has been on dialysis for several years. It all began some time ago when a dear friend was suffering, and she decided to donate her kidney to him - sadly he passed away before the transplant could be done. Having started the process, she felt compelled to move forward and donate to someone else in honour of him and Family members that have passed. She said, “if I could have donated to my loved ones and prevented them from passing away, I would have in a heartbeat!”
She hopes her donation will prevent a Family from losing someone they love dearly, and feels that the benefits of that far outweigh the potential risks to herself.
Most organ donations are from deceased donors, and thousands of people die each year waiting for a donation. The length of time the recipient waits for an organ to become available is shorter when the organ comes from a living donor. Also, other recipients on the transplant waiting list who do not have a living donor themselves, move up the transplant waiting list once the recipient of the living donor kidney is removed from the list. In that way, other people waiting for a kidney transplant also benefit from a living donation.
Heather is a hard-working single Mom, and in order for her to have this surgery she will have to take unpaid time off work. She will be applying for medical EI, but there is a two week waiting period and potentially up to 28 days to receive any funds. She is determined, independent, and resourceful and as a result is not one to ask for help. So I am doing that part for her! She will incur extra expenses in addition to her regular commitments. There will be additional child care, travel costs to the city where the procedure will take place, accommodation for her travel companion, potential medications and likely many other unexpected expenses. She said “I wouldn't want finances to be the reason I can't help someone get their life back, and not be tied down by doing dialysis multiple times a week in order to keep living”.
Please consider assisting Heather in this mission. Any amount helps and if you can't donate financially, think about signing the back of your health care card (Universal Donor Card), or register online. Be sure to discuss your wishes to donate with your family members.
With Gratitude,
Karen
She hopes her donation will prevent a Family from losing someone they love dearly, and feels that the benefits of that far outweigh the potential risks to herself.
Most organ donations are from deceased donors, and thousands of people die each year waiting for a donation. The length of time the recipient waits for an organ to become available is shorter when the organ comes from a living donor. Also, other recipients on the transplant waiting list who do not have a living donor themselves, move up the transplant waiting list once the recipient of the living donor kidney is removed from the list. In that way, other people waiting for a kidney transplant also benefit from a living donation.
Heather is a hard-working single Mom, and in order for her to have this surgery she will have to take unpaid time off work. She will be applying for medical EI, but there is a two week waiting period and potentially up to 28 days to receive any funds. She is determined, independent, and resourceful and as a result is not one to ask for help. So I am doing that part for her! She will incur extra expenses in addition to her regular commitments. There will be additional child care, travel costs to the city where the procedure will take place, accommodation for her travel companion, potential medications and likely many other unexpected expenses. She said “I wouldn't want finances to be the reason I can't help someone get their life back, and not be tied down by doing dialysis multiple times a week in order to keep living”.
Please consider assisting Heather in this mission. Any amount helps and if you can't donate financially, think about signing the back of your health care card (Universal Donor Card), or register online. Be sure to discuss your wishes to donate with your family members.
With Gratitude,
Karen
Organizer and beneficiary
Karen Powers Eastland
Organizer
Saint Albert, AB
Heather Tymo
Beneficiary
