‘When in your life do you get to be a hero?’ Organ recipients thank Nanaimo healthcare providers

“One of the things she says is ‘When in your life do you get to be a hero?’ She loved that opportunity that she got to be my hero,” Bachman told NanaimoNewsNOW while welling up in tears.

Facing an uncertain future waiting 20 years for the right donor match, Bachman is now thriving in retirement.

She’s able to enjoy multiple activities like hiking and swimming and her top passion of soccer, including taking part in a competitive tournament in Italy.

“I remember siting there one night, having a beer, and looking out at the fields and thinking what an incredible gift this is.”

Bachman volunteers, including fundraising on behalf of BC Transplant to spread the message of the power of donating vital organs.

Bachman said there are misconceptions facing living donors worried about having a reduced quality of life, which she said has not been an issue with her sister-in-law due to ever-advancing care.

“She’s fantastic, travelling the globe and just living life…She’s active, happy, healthy and hasn’t skipped a beat.”

Cindy Bachman proudly displays her ‘Ask me abut my transplant’ t-shirt. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Jennifer Carroll was also overwhelmed with emotion as she returned to the hospital where her mother died following a brain hemorrhage in 2015 on Christmas Eve on Gabriola Island.

Her mother donated her kidney’s, liver and corneas.

As sad as her mother’s passing was, Carroll said she was also ecstatic that her mother was able to help three other people.

“One of the things that really helped me, especially, was knowing that on Christmas Day several people’s lives were changed and saved and that gives me a lot of goosebumpy joy, Carroll, a Port Alberni resident said.

Carroll has been a devoted BC Transplant donor family volunteer ever since.

She said the inevitably of death is a topic often ignored in Western culture, when in fact it should be discussed openly with loved ones, including the potential of donating organs.

“Christmas is my favourite time of year now, I just love it. We do this beautiful thing in the morning on Christmas Eve, we honour my mom. I plan for Christmas the second it’s over.”

Jennifer Carroll said her family is fully aware of the immense power being an organ donor has. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

David Torney is an organ donation coordinator for BC Transplant and Intensive Care Unit nurse at NRGH.

Torney’s front-line health duties includes him meeting with families to see if organ donation is a good fit for them, emphasizing he simply provides facts and no pressure is involved.

“It’s something we’re trying to do with every person that comes through in a situation where their life is ending. We want physicians and families to know that this is an option,” Torney told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Torney said people can easily sign-up in a few minutes to join the BC Organ Donor Registry on the BC Transplant website.

He noted more than 560 British Columbians received a transplant last year.

“It’s an easy thing to do, You can’t take your organs with you. If they’re viable please give them,” he said.

More than 600 British Columbians are waiting for life-saving transplants in the province, according to BC Transplant.

The agency reported nearly 1.6 million British Columbians are registered to donate their organs.

Several units at Nanaimo hospital received popcorn on Thursday afternoon courtesy of Operation Popcorn, coordinated by Transplant BC. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

Info@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @NanaimoNewsNOW

by Ian Holmes

‘When in your life do you get to be a hero?’ Organ recipients thank Nanaimo healthcare providers

More Local News