Thankful for new kidney

TIGNISH -- While sitting in his hospital room last August, the day after he received a donor kidney, Brian Ellis read a newspaper story about a Nova Scotia man whose life ended all too soon.



Knowing that the young man was not going to survive, his family gave permission for his organs and tissue to be harvested for donation.



Fifty people received organs or tissues because of that decision, Ellis noted, and while he might never know for sure, he believes he was one of the recipients. Names of donors and recipients are not disclosed, he pointed out.



Ellis had been on a transplant waiting list for a year and a half before receiving a new kidney. During that time he went in for kidney dialysis three times a week and, in March 2006 he walked from Souris to Tignish to raise funds and awareness for organ and tissue donation.



He completed a second walk Sunday.



"I Just want to create some awareness for people to donate their organs to the organ and tissue society, so that everybody can get a chance on the island to get a gift of life like I did. I was lucky," he said.



Lucky?



"When you are on a waiting list to either live or die, you dont really know which one youre going to get and you dont know how long youre going to wait; you dont know if youre going to make it," he pointed out.



"I really want to thank my donor family for giving me a second chance, and discussing the options with their family and deciding to donate this young fellows organs," said Ellis.



"When I mention lucky, its just to continue on in your life and see your kids grow and get to meet your grandchildren, and continue to work and just enjoy life like everybody else does. Because quality of life is so much better now.



"People can sign their license and get a red sticker on their license, saying that they are an organ donor, but, when the time comes, if theyre tragically killed in an accident, their family has to make the decision whether their organs go to other people and, if it wasnt discussed, then it causes confusion..



"You have to make your wishes known, and make sure your family knows exactly what you want to do in case that happens. I dont want to see it happen to anybody, but life is very precious and everybody loves to live it," he added.



"I figure Im pretty lucky, because I only had to wait a year and a half. Other people have to wait six years or so."



"Its a wonderful thing," he said of organ and tissue donation. "People across P.E.I. should sign their donor cards, discuss it with their family and, maybe we can balance out the waiting list times."



"People can sign their license and get a red sticker on their license, saying that they are an organ donor, but, when the time comes, if theyre tragically killed in an accident, their family has to make the decision whether their organs go to other people and, if it wasnt discussed, then it causes confusion. You have to make your wishes known, and make sure your family knows exactly what you want to do in case that happens. I dont want to see it happen to anybody, but life is very precious and everybody loves to live it, and Im just really fortunate to be able to do this walk because. I did it on dialysis last year and I just wondered if I could do it with a new kidney, which Ive proven I can."



Ellis said hes hoping to help break down the barriers of fear and the unknown." Just dont take your organs with you," he said "because we need them here. Thats the important thing, because everybody should share and love thy neighbour as yourself."