Maple Ridge transplant recipient and donor thank staff at hospital – Maple Ridge News

Geoff Dunsire is a fortunate man.

He has obtained essentially the most treasured present anybody can ever obtain – two instances. On Sept. 20, 2013, Dunsire obtained a liver transplant after which in 2019 he obtained a kidney from the household’s actual property agent.

And on Thursday, Dec. 9, Dunsire, alongside along with his mom Tracey, and kidney donor Debi Pearce have been at Ridge Meadows Hospital with BC Transplant’s annual Operation Popcorn to say thanks to the well being care employees that make organ donation doable.

Tracey informed the well being care employees gathered on Thursday her son’s high quality of life has improved ten-fold for the reason that kidney transplant.

“It’s modified my life as effectively,” added Pearce as she thanked the hospital workers. “I’ve a brand new appreciation for well being. I bought loads more healthy doing it as a result of I needed to undergo the myriad of checks to verify I used to be wholesome.”

“Life is treasured and we have to share,” Pearce remarked.

“So we name Debi his kidney mother,” famous Tracey.

Then the trio introduced hospital workers with three purple present containers containing mini baggage of popcorn.

That is the 30th 12 months for the occasion that enables people whose lives have been saved by organ donation to personally thank workers in intensive care items, emergency departments, and working rooms throughout the province.

Dunsire got here down with a liver illness known as autoimmune hepatitis and by the point he was 25, he wanted a life-saving liver transplant.

Nevertheless after ready too lengthy for a match, his kidney’s began to fail and he contracted a blood an infection that went to his coronary heart and mind inflicting reminiscence loss. Then he turned paralyzed from the neck down.

After his transplant he spent 16 months in hospital, solely capable of return house in December 2014 and made a sluggish restoration, regaining the power to stroll. Nevertheless, he would spend the following 5 years on dialysis throughout which his kidneys continued to fail. When his kidneys have been six per cent operational they wanted to discover a dwelling donor.

Pearce examine Dunsire’s seek for a kidney donor in The Information in 2018. She had been employed by the household for her providers as an actual property agent. So she determined to see if she may very well be a match. When she came upon she was she stunned Dunsire with an image of a kidney cradled in a pair of arms. The transplant was carried out in June 2019.

“It’s been a protracted one,” Tracey stated of her son’s ordeal. “And so we’ve such and appreciation for all of you guys, for what you do day-after-day.”

Particularly those that work within the ICU, famous Tracey, as a result of they see individuals at their worst.

Operation Popcorn started in few hospitals however now entails 85 volunteers and popcorn deliveries to 26 hospitals throughout the province. It’s a reminder of the individuals whose lives have been saved by way of the work of well being care professionals in help of organ donors.

“There are greater than 5,600 transplant recipients alive and thriving because of the devoted efforts of all of the caring well being professionals throughout the province who help organ donation,” stated Eric Lun, BC Transplant’s government director.

Cathy Giles, director of medical operations at Ridge Meadows Hospital, famous her personal son additionally needed to have a liver transplant on the age of 27 and now he’s a married and a father of two.

Pearce confirmed off a silver bracelet containing a single phrase: “Consider” – a phrase she saved repeating to Tracey when she was present process testing to grow to be a donor for Geoff.

Each herself and Tracey put on similar bracelets.

“That is what we use to remind ourselves of believing in miracles.”

In keeping with BC Transplant there are greater than 620 individuals ready for a transplant. To register as an organ donor go to: taketwominutes.ca.