Wearing an Osoyoos Coyotes jersey with the slogan “Be the Kidney,” Brian Rawlings spoke at the Kidney Transplant Summit about Osoyoos Share Your Spare campaign. At left is Judy Sloan, who received a cadaver kidney and at right is Julie Wolter, who received one of Rawlings’ kidneys. (Tracy Riddell photo)
At the beginning of May, three Osoyoos residents attended the first ever Kidney Transplant Summit in Vancouver.
Brian Rawlings, a kidney donor, along with kidney recipients Judy Sloan and Julie Wolter had an important story to tell about the Osoyoos community.
Back in 2013, a small group formed and made their headquarters the Kemp Harvey Craig accounting office.
Adopting the name “Share Your Spare,” they set the goal of eliminating the waiting list for kidney transplants in Osoyoos.
Those whose kidneys are failing often find themselves lacking the energy for daily responsibilities and they have to be connected regularly to a dialysis machine.
A kidney transplant can usually restore them to a normal and healthy life.
Kidneys are often obtained from the cadavers of people killed in accidents.
The trouble is that many people don’t take the simple step of registering as an organ donor in the event of their death.
It’s easy to do – just visit www.transplant.bc.ca and follow the simple instructions.
All too often when a person is killed suddenly, doctors are reluctant to raise the sensitive issue of organ donation with the distraught next of kin.
Unlike some organs, kidneys can also be provided by a living donor. A normal person has two, but a person is capable of living a healthy and happy life with just one.
Often someone will donate one of their kidneys to save the life of a loved one.
Share Your Spare has taken this further, suggesting that people at least consider donating one of their kidneys to help another member of the community in need – or even a complete stranger.
The Osoyoos Coyotes supported this campaign by adding a picture of a kidney and the slogan “Be the Kidney” to their jerseys.
In March, Rawlings did exactly that, providing one of his kidneys so that Wolter can again lead a normal life.
Osoyoos should be proud that our community was able to tell this story to the kidney transplant community at this summit in Vancouver.
