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Irene Mills is one of the most amazing and interesting women I have ever met and I have the great privilege to work with her. She raised two kids as a mostly single mom and there were times she worried if she could even put a roof over her children’s head. She is also a very proud Grandmother who has taken a very active role in helping to raise and support her grandchildren. Irene has persevered through life’s many challenges and is now consulting full time as a community and Aboriginal relations specialist in Prince Rupert, BC. In addition to that she also finds time to make soap and other products and she is also a very accomplished Haida weaver of hats and baskets. On weekends you might find her at the local market in Prince Rupert selling her creations.
After all life has challenged her on, Irene still puts others before herself. A remarkable case in point is her below story about her unselfish offer to donate a kidney to someone who was almost a complete stranger just 6 years ago. The surgery is now scheduled and preparations to travel are in place. I encourage you to read the story and consider donating to this GoFundMe Page to help Irene get through the minimum four week recovery time as she will not be able to work and therefore not collect a paycheck as she is a consultant. While Irene is aware of my setting up this page she was very uncomfortable with the idea as she is not one to ask for any hand-outs. However, she has helped so many people in her life, including the lady in the story below, I hope you will consider giving Irene a hand up to help her during her time of recovery. Any money raised above the $2,500 goal will be given to the lady she is donating the kidney for.
From Irene:
After seeing my niece’s former soccer teammate sick and needing help on Facebook I asked what was wrong and what kind of donation she required. I thought was a very personal question but wanted to see if I could help. The response I received was someone who had a kidney and who was O Positive.
As a blood donor for many years I knew I was O Positive and so I told her this and that I could donate a kidney. I ask who I needed to talk to and received the info for Kidney Donor program at St Paul's and completed the medical tests, interview process and became an approved donor in June 2011. When I was first entering the kidney donation program I was told St Paul’s does the most kidney transplants next to Toronto. I think this says a lot for the quality health care we have!
Unfortunately the young lady I signed up for was not a ‘match’ so we entered into the Paired Exchange program, O Positive people can donate to anyone. Canada Blood Services every quarter review all the people who enter the Paired Exchange Program to see if there are any possible ‘matches’.
Now after almost 6 years later with annual check up to make sure I continued to be in good health and the young lady is on dialysis in her own home, we have been told there are possible ‘matches’ for us. The meant more test for compatibility and good health which all went well and we are now on the verge of completing the donation through a number of Paired Exchange matches across Canada. Donors travel to the recipients’ location, it makes sense to have the healthy people travel to the location where the recipients so they can stay in one place with their transplant team and received the healthcare they require for a full recovery.
Once the donation is complete the recovery time for the donor is normally between 6-8 weeks and some people have returned to work after 4 weeks. In preparation for this time away from work I have saved as much as possible after getting the call from the transplant team 4 months ago. I plan to return to work on a part time basis after 2 weeks and if my recovery allows I will return to work full time at 4 weeks. I am grateful that I have very supportive employers who have said they will support me anyway they can.
I have also included a link to the local MLA, Jennifer Rice, speaking about Irene before the BC legislature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4I_TWhQMJw
Thanks for taking your time to read this.
Jason
After all life has challenged her on, Irene still puts others before herself. A remarkable case in point is her below story about her unselfish offer to donate a kidney to someone who was almost a complete stranger just 6 years ago. The surgery is now scheduled and preparations to travel are in place. I encourage you to read the story and consider donating to this GoFundMe Page to help Irene get through the minimum four week recovery time as she will not be able to work and therefore not collect a paycheck as she is a consultant. While Irene is aware of my setting up this page she was very uncomfortable with the idea as she is not one to ask for any hand-outs. However, she has helped so many people in her life, including the lady in the story below, I hope you will consider giving Irene a hand up to help her during her time of recovery. Any money raised above the $2,500 goal will be given to the lady she is donating the kidney for.
From Irene:
After seeing my niece’s former soccer teammate sick and needing help on Facebook I asked what was wrong and what kind of donation she required. I thought was a very personal question but wanted to see if I could help. The response I received was someone who had a kidney and who was O Positive.
As a blood donor for many years I knew I was O Positive and so I told her this and that I could donate a kidney. I ask who I needed to talk to and received the info for Kidney Donor program at St Paul's and completed the medical tests, interview process and became an approved donor in June 2011. When I was first entering the kidney donation program I was told St Paul’s does the most kidney transplants next to Toronto. I think this says a lot for the quality health care we have!
Unfortunately the young lady I signed up for was not a ‘match’ so we entered into the Paired Exchange program, O Positive people can donate to anyone. Canada Blood Services every quarter review all the people who enter the Paired Exchange Program to see if there are any possible ‘matches’.
Now after almost 6 years later with annual check up to make sure I continued to be in good health and the young lady is on dialysis in her own home, we have been told there are possible ‘matches’ for us. The meant more test for compatibility and good health which all went well and we are now on the verge of completing the donation through a number of Paired Exchange matches across Canada. Donors travel to the recipients’ location, it makes sense to have the healthy people travel to the location where the recipients so they can stay in one place with their transplant team and received the healthcare they require for a full recovery.
Once the donation is complete the recovery time for the donor is normally between 6-8 weeks and some people have returned to work after 4 weeks. In preparation for this time away from work I have saved as much as possible after getting the call from the transplant team 4 months ago. I plan to return to work on a part time basis after 2 weeks and if my recovery allows I will return to work full time at 4 weeks. I am grateful that I have very supportive employers who have said they will support me anyway they can.
I have also included a link to the local MLA, Jennifer Rice, speaking about Irene before the BC legislature: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4I_TWhQMJw
Thanks for taking your time to read this.
Jason
Organizer and beneficiary
Irene Mills
Beneficiary