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NIE - NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION
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| Last updated at 10:52 AM on 30/04/07 |
Thankful for new kidney 
ERIC MCCARTHY
The Journal Pioneer
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 don‚t really know which one you‚re going to get and you don‚t know how long you‚re going to wait; you don‚t know if you‚re 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 fellow‚s organs," said Ellis.
"When I mention lucky, it‚s 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 they‚re tragically killed in an accident, their family has to make the decision whether their organs go to other people and, if it wasn‚t 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 don‚t want to see it happen to anybody, but life is very precious and everybody loves to live it," he added.
"I figure I‚m pretty lucky, because I only had to wait a year and a half. Other people have to wait six years or so."
"It‚s 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 they‚re tragically killed in an accident, their family has to make the decision whether their organs go to other people and, if it wasn‚t 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 don‚t want to see it happen to anybody, but life is very precious and everybody loves to live it, and I‚m 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 I‚ve proven I can."
Ellis said he‚s hoping to help break down the barriers of fear and the unknown." Just don‚t take your organs with you," he said "because we need them here. That‚s the important thing, because everybody should share and Œlove thy neighbour as yourself.‚"
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30/04/07
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jypsy (janet norman-bain) from PEI writes: Congratulations Brian!
It was an honour & pleasure for Alex & I to meet you and share a tiny bit of your journey. Your message is an important one and you made us much more aware of the situation than we were. I hope you're enjoying a very well deserved rest now and I hope our paths will cross again in the future.
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| Posted 30/04/2007 at 11:07 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Nita from PEI writes: Way too go Brian!!!! I think you are doing a great thing, Just to make people award, of how someone can be so Loving, to people that needs organs to make them live,my uncle had a kidney transplant as well and he is doing great,keep up the good work you are a great guy
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| Posted 30/04/2007 at 11:22 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Connie Gill from Botwood, NL writes: Thank you for making me truly aware of how important it is to be a organ donor. It will be wonderful to see that you meet or exceed your financial goal but it would also be interesting to see how many people decide to be organ donors. I'm in....on my way to have my license marked and I want my family to use this comment, to let them know that I have decided to be a donor. I hope I am not the only person you touch. Thanks! You truly make a difference in my life. Love You
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| Posted 03/05/2007 at 9:21 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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