In this heart-tugging episode, the fellas dive into a tale of resilience, love, and the complexities of kidney transplantation with one ultimate goal - finding a Kidney for our dear friend, Ellie. Ellie is a rockstar nurse battling kidney disease. She opens up about her journey through kidney failure, dialysis, and the quest for a second transplant after her first one has hit a rough patch. Ellie's story is nothing short of a rollercoaster. She sheds light on the emotional and logistical hurdles of finding a kidney match, all while juggling life with her superhero partner, Keegan, and contemplating the future of their family.
But it doesn’t end there! Jeremie then chats with Candice Coghlan from the Centre for Living Organ Donation, who brings her own kidney transplant tale and heaps of knowledge about the kidney-paired exchange program. Candice debunks transplant myths, giving us the lowdown on how we can play a part in this life-saving process.
To cap it all off, the boys share a laugh over a bizarre encounter with a patient simulation robot that's eerily reminiscent of a 10-year-old boy, because what's a deep dive into medical marvels without a touch of Chucky being sliced open over and over again before ultimately turning on his “care providers”?
Here’s the thing folks. This isn’t just another episode of Sickboy. This is a mission. Help us find a kidney for Ellie! For more information check out the links below.
Key Takeaways
- Kidney disease can have a significant impact on a person's life, requiring dialysis and potentially multiple kidney transplants.
- Finding a compatible donor for a kidney transplant can be challenging, especially for individuals with a high level of antibodies.
- Kidney disease can affect decisions about family planning, and options such as freezing eggs may be considered.
- The kidney-paired exchange program increases the chances of finding a compatible kidney for transplantation.
- Donating a kidney can save someone's life, and individuals can enter the program as directed donors or non-directed anonymous donors.
- Living with kidney disease can take away the ability to feel carefree, but it can also foster empathy for others.
- Nurses play a crucial role in the healthcare system and are often underappreciated and undervalued.
- Spreading awareness about the kidney donation program can help more people find suitable donors.
- The kidney paired exchange program allows people with living donors who are not compatible to find a suitable match through a national registry.
- Potential kidney donors go through a rigorous evaluation process to ensure they are healthy enough to donate.
- Living kidney donors can live healthy, normal lives with just one kidney.
In the event of a potential organ donor, please call (902) 473-2222 and have the on-call Donor Transplant Coordinator at the QEII paged.
Follow Ellie's story on Instagram: @kidneyforellie
Find more information on UHN Transplant:
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAMBVV4rdvQTo14ts34phBg
- https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant
- Instagram: @givelifeuhn
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