living a healthy life to pay it forward

I was fortunate to receive the gift of life. The liver I received in 2016 came from a young person who had the wherewithal to register as an organ donor, likely thinking he would be a senior when he passed away.

Unfortunately for him, he passed away tragically as a 20 something year old. This is really sad for many reasons and I think about his family everyday. I would never wish for this to happen to anyone. The fact is, that accidents do happen, and people die everyday.

Fortunately for me, his liver suited my blood type, size and was a perfect match to replace my failing liver. For anyone needing a transplant, we can take a tragic situation and harness the life that is left, and carry forward what is still viable to save someone else.

This is such a miracle. It takes a series of events to line up perfectly, so that the gift of a new organ can be transplanted to live on in someone else.

It starts with you.  The better you take care of yourself, your body, the vehicle in which we move and get around day to day, the better we feel.  This also motivates those around you to do the same. Imagine a world where we all realized how precious it is to be healthy and have functioning, working organs…

I also think about this from a transplant recipients perspective, because I am a recipient and I’ve been so fortunate to receive a really healthy new organ.  The liver I received was “beautiful” and I was told by my surgeon that if he were to need a new liver, he would want one like the one that was transplanted to me.  How amazing is that.

Stay with me here, I know this can be a tough conversation to have, and maybe hard to talk about.  I am grateful that my donor was healthy, and passed on a quality organ to me after his death. It’s allowed me to get my life back, full of possibilities and hope.

Admiring this 700+ year old tree with my family.

Can we realize that when we register to become an organ donor, you’re saying “after I pass, I will share what I have left for someone else, so they can live”. And taking care of those organs…your body, living healthily, and moving your body everyday in the ways you can, is part of the equation of passing life on.

Another (maybe the more obvious) step in this series of events that lead to transplant miracles is the act of registering your wishes.  And part of that, is ensuring that your family understands and respects your wishes to donate.

Having the conversation about wanting to donate when you pass is equally important as registering.  Many registered organ donors don’t discuss their wishes with their family. This can result in your loved ones being faced with the question in a time of shock and grief, and often times the family declines, because they didn’t know. (Yes, even if you’re registered. It’s ultimately up to your family).  Understanding the process, knowing that it’s not necessarily a quick process, expressing how important it is to your family that this is what you want after you die, is so important.

I can personally say from lived experience, and having the opportunity to meet hundreds of transplant recipients, that we’re a grateful bunch.  Getting a second chance at life has forced the realization that time on earth is precious. Most recipients I know want to give back and pay it forward. I’ve seen that done in many ways, whether its fundraising, living fully, helping and educating others about the organ donation process, and becoming ambassadors for organ donation awareness.  

Hundreds of grateful recipients come together at the World Transplant Games 2023 in Perth, Australia to celebrate life and compete in the sports we love.

Let’s not forget about the option to become a living donor. I’m grateful to know a few recipients of live donation. The beauty of this situation, is the donor can provide a second chance at life for someone suffering from organ failure, before they need dialysis, or before the recipient becomes very ill. This helps reduce the the waitlist, potentially reducing healthcare costs associated with ongoing treatments. The act of giving part of oneself for the well-being of another can be incredibly rewarding! 

Today I choose to live an active life, and prioritize my well being. I do this to honour my organ donor, take the best care of the gift I’ve received that I can, and if I can inspire someone else around me to live healthily, then thats a true bonus.