Living Transplant: Patient Stories | Organ Donation | Medical Experts

In this episode of the Living Transplant podcast, Dr. Edward Cole shares his extensive experience in nephrology and kidney transplantation. With a career spanning over fifty years at the University Health Network, Dr. Cole has witnessed the trajectory of transplant medicine from its infancy to its advacned state today. He reflects on the future of nephrology, including potential innovations in transplantation and the significance of mentorship in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals.In This Episode, We Cover:The Early Days: What transplant medicine looked like in 1975 versus today.The Game Changers: How drugs like Cyclosporine revolutionized survival rates.The Science of Matching: Understanding HLA antigens and the breakthrough of the Paired Donation Program.Future Horizons: Xenotransplantation and the dream of eliminating anti-rejection medication.Hard Truths: Dr. Cole’s candid advice on patient advocacy and the realities of a medical career.Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ DonationClick here for more information about living organ donation.Click here for more information about living kidney transplantation. Click here for more information about Polycystic Kidney Disease. Ajmera Transplant Centre on InstagramEach episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.About our HostCandice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

In this conversation, Yitzi Gal discusses the significance of practicing failure through improvisation and mistakes in a safe environment, emphasizing the need to differentiate between minor errors and life-threatening situations. He highlights the importance of emotional resilience and the ability to assess risks in everyday life.Key TakeawaysWe need to practice failure in a safe space.Mistakes should not be equated with life-threatening situations.Emotional training is essential for risk assessment.Not every failure leads to significant consequences.Understanding the context of mistakes is crucial for growth.Teaching students about failure prepares them for real life.Practicing in a controlled environment builds confidence.Life lessons often come from making mistakes.Differentiating between minor and major risks is vital.Emotional health is impacted by our perception of failure.Links and ResourcesImprov for Anxiety One Man’s Solution for Crushing Anxiety: ImprovPlay with Fire ImprovBrene Brown TED Talk: The Power of VulnerabilityInternal Family Systems (IFS) – Richard SchwartzThe Power of Addiction and The Addiction of Power: Gabor Maté at TEDxRio+20Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ DonationLearn more about Living Organ DonationLearn more about Kidney TransplantationCentre for Living Organ Donation on InstagramAjmera Transplant Centre on InstagramEach episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.About our HostCandice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

In this episode of Living Transplant, we sit down with Dr. Susy Hota, an infectious diseases physician and medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at UHN. Dr. Hota takes us inside the world of C. difficile infections and the remarkable, life-changing treatment known as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT).From her early fascination with microbiology to leading pandemic preparedness at one of Canada’s largest hospitals, Dr. Hota shares her journey, insights from the frontlines of COVID-19, and how collaboration and relationships underpin every breakthrough in healthcare.We then explore the gut microbiome — the “hidden organ” inside us — and how FMT offers new hope for patients living with recurrent C. diff. Dr. Hota also demystifies the donor process, potential risks, and the exciting future of microbiome research that could transform how we treat everything from gut disorders to mental health.Key TakeawaysHope and healing: Even for those with chronic or recurrent infections, there are innovative treatments that can restore quality of life.Relationships matter: Whether in outbreak response or research, collaboration is key to success in healthcare.Your gut is an ecosystem: FMT is changing how we think about disease — focusing on restoring balance, not just killing bacteria.The future is bright: As microbiome science advances, new possibilities are emerging for treating conditions far beyond infection.About our GuestDr. Susy Hota is the Division Head of Infectious Diseases at UHN and Sinai Health and the Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at UHN. She has been a leader in pandemic preparedness, infection control, and innovative treatments such as fecal microbiota transplantation. Her work bridges clinical care, research, and systems-level leadership to improve safety and health outcomes for patients across Canada.Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ DonationLearn more about Living Organ DonationLearn more about Kidney TransplantationLearn more about Dr. Hota’s research and fecal transplantationCentre for Living Organ Donation on InstagramAjmera Transplant Centre on InstagramEach episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.About our HostCandice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

In this powerful episode of Living Transplant, host Candice Coghlan sits down with Sasha, a social worker at Toronto General Hospital, to discuss the vital intersection of mental health, addiction recovery, and organ transplantation. Sasha shares her journey into social work, her experience supporting patients in the Alcohol Liver Disease Program, and how stigma can affect those living with alcohol-related liver disease.The conversation dives deep into the realities of recovery, relapse prevention, financial barriers, and the emotional toll of transplant life — for both patients and families. Sasha emphasizes compassion, honesty, and the importance of recognizing addiction as a health condition, not a moral failing. Together, Candice and Sasha explore the meaning of resilience, the need for peer and mental health support, and the small acts of kindness that make a lasting impact in healthcare.Key TakeawaysAddiction is a health condition and should be treated with empathy and understanding.Mental health support is just as critical as physical care in the transplant process.Family and caregivers play an essential role in a patient’s recovery journey.Financial challenges and access to mental health care remain major barriers for many patients.Peer support networks are transformative but still lacking for liver transplant patients.Honesty and emotional validation are key tools for social workers supporting transplant patients.It’s okay to not feel okay — emotional lows are part of the transplant journey.Resources & LinksLearn more about Living Organ DonationLearn more about Living Liver DonationLearn more about Mental Health supports availableCentre for Living Organ Donation on InstagramAjmera Transplant Centre on InstagramAbout the PodcastEach episode of Living Transplant shares real stories from transplant recipients, living donors, and healthcare experts. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or simply curious about organ donation, you’ll hear honest conversations about resilience, hope, and the life-changing power of organ transplantation.About the HostCandice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre, a kidney transplant recipient, and a board member for the National Kidney Foundation.ContactHave questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

In this deeply moving episode of The Living Transplant Podcast, host Candice Coghlan sits down with Mary, a liver transplant recipient whose story embodies courage, vulnerability, and self-advocacy.Mary opens up about her struggles with addiction, mental health, and identity, sharing how her liver transplant became a turning point toward healing — both physically and emotionally. She discusses the often-overlooked connection between mental and physical health, the stigma surrounding addiction, and the life-changing power of receiving an accurate diagnosis after years of being misunderstood.This honest and heartfelt conversation reminds us that healing doesn’t end with surgery — it continues with self-discovery, support, and breaking the silence around mental health.Key TakeawaysMental and physical health are deeply interconnected — both deserve equal attention.Addiction and mental health struggles are health issues, not moral failings.Advocacy starts small: asking for help is an act of bravery, advocacy is crucial in navigating the healthcare systemReceiving a transplant can awaken gratitude, but also complex emotions that deserve space and care.A proper diagnosis can completely change a person’s quality of life.Breaking the stigma around mental health begins with open, honest conversations.Community and compassion are powerful forces in recovery.Mental health challenges often go unseen and misunderstood.Organ donation is a life-changing gift that impacts families.Everyone struggles with something; it's important to talk about it.Links and ResourcesMore information about living organ donationMore information about living liver transplantationCentre for Living Organ Donation on InstagramAjmera Transplant Centre on InstagramCanadian Mental Health AssociationAbout Our GuestMary R. — Liver transplant recipient and mental health advocate.Her story highlights resilience, hope, and the importance of treating the whole person, not just the body.Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ DonationClick here for more information about living organ donation.Click here for more information about living kidney transplantation. Click here for more information about Polycystic Kidney Disease. Ajmera Transplant Centre on InstagramEach episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.About our HostCandice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

In this inspiring episode, host Candice Coghlan speaks with Megan Owen-Evans, a rare double anonymous living organ donor. Megan has given both a kidney and part of her liver—gifts offered not to family or friends, but to complete strangers in need.Together, they explore what motivates someone to step forward for such extraordinary acts of altruism, the recovery journey, and the myths and misconceptions around anonymous donation. Megan also shares how her experiences as a donor inspired her advocacy work, including pushing for paid leave for living donors through the Living Donor Circle of Excellence.This conversation highlights not only the bravery of living donors but also the ripple effects their generosity creates in workplaces, families, and communities.Episode HighlightsMegan’s journey from childhood experience to becoming a living donorDiscovering the option of anonymous kidney and liver donationWhat recovery was really like after both surgeriesMisconceptions about living and anonymous donation—and how to address themWriting letters to her recipients and the emotional connections that followedHow Megan helped shape workplace policy to remove financial barriers for donorsWhy living donors see their gift as life-changing not just for recipients, but for themselvesTakeawaysLiving donors undergo thorough medical and psychological screening to ensure safety.Recovery from kidney and liver donation is often faster and easier than many assume.Community support and employer recognition play a vital role in making donation possible.Altruism can be a powerful force that reshapes not only individual lives but also public policy.Every act of donation—whether blood, organs, or advocacy—creates ripples of hope.Links and ResourcesClick here for more information about the Living Donor Circle of ExcellenceClick here to watch videos of living organ donors and recipients of living donationConnect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ DonationClick here for more information about living organ donation.Click here for more information about living kidney transplantation. Click here for more information about living liver transplantationClick here to watch videos of living organ donors and recipients of living donationCentre for Living Organ Donation on InstagramAjmera Transplant Centre on InstagramEach episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.About our HostCandice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

In this episode, Dr. Marsh explains the neuroscience of altruism, from the role of the amygdala to genetic influences on empathy. Through Dr. Marsh’s donor stories and research insights we explore the spectrum of altruism and psychopathy. She reveals how the amygdala, the brain region tied to emotional responses, plays a pivotal role in altruistic behavior. Remarkably, research shows that altruistic kidney donors often have larger amygdala sizes compared to the average person.Dr. Marsh also reveals the genetic factors that shape empathy and altruistic tendencies, while challenging the misconception that altruism is irrational or abnormal. She contrasts the media’s frequent focus on negative aspects of human nature with the lived experiences of donors, who describe profound feelings of honor and fulfillment after giving the gift of life.Throughout the conversation, personal stories from living organ donors underscore the importance of community support for both donors and recipients. Dr. Marsh emphasizes the power of education and awareness to dispel myths about donation and highlights that altruism is not only a natural human trait but also one that can be nurtured and encouraged in all of us.Links and ResourcesDr. Marsh’s WebsiteDr. Marsh’s TedTalkThe Fear Factor, by Dr. MarshDr. Marsh LinkedInConnect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ DonationClick here for more information about living organ donation.Click here for more information about living kidney transplantation. Click here for more information about Polycystic Kidney Disease. Ajmera Transplant Centre on InstagramEach episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.About our HostCandice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

 In this episode of the Living Transplant podcast, host Candice Coghlan is joined by Loi Nguyen; a father, outdoorsman, and all around very positive person. Loi is living with polycystic kidney disease. We discussed his journey from diagnosis to kidney modality options, to the call that came in that changed his life: that there was a living kidney donor ready to donate a kidney to him through the paired exchange program.  We're later joined by Christine Bruce, the Senior Director of Laboratory Medicine at UHN. Not only is Christine the Director of the program, which is incredibly instrumental in all parts of transplant, but she is also an anonymous kidney donor. After reading an email we sent out about Living Donation Week, Christine made the decision that she would fill out her health history form and wait six months to see if she was still passionate about the opportunity to become a donor. And when she decided she was, her path to transplant was unique, as she went from a practitioner to a patient. Please enjoy.   The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network. For more information about living organ donation, please visit www.livingorgandonation.ca For more information about living kidney transplantation, please visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_kidney_donor.aspx For more information about Polycystic Kidney Disease, please visit https://www.endpkd.ca/  Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.

In this episode of the Living Transplant podcast, host Candice Coghlan is joined by Winne Jerome who talks to us about her journey as a living donor to her sister through the Kidney Paired Donation Program, making that decision after having a premature newborn baby at home. She spoke about how when she found out she was able to donate a kidney to a stranger, so her sister would receive a kidney from a stranger, the excitement was too much to hold. We are later joined by Darlene Jagusic, a registered nurse who spent time supporting the Living and Deceased Donation Program in Saskatchewan, as well as being a critical care nurse in B. C. and Saskatchewan for many years. She is now the Program Manager for the Kidney Paired Donation and Highly Sensitized Patient Program at Canadian Blood Services. We discuss hope for those waiting, the details and intricacies of the Kidney Paired Donation Program, and the gratitude we have for organ donors. Please enjoy.   The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the offical policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.  For more information about kidney transplantation, please visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Kidney_Transplant_Program  For more information about the Kidney Paired Donation Program, please visit: https://www.blood.ca/en/organs-tissues/living-organ-donation/kidney-paired-donation  To watch Winnie & Fadia's story on Great Actions, please visit: greatactions.ca  Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.

In this episode of the Living Transplant postcast, host, Candice Coghlan was joined by Stephanie Dyriw, a living liver donor to her son. Stephanie was put in a situation no parent could ever imagine, when her healthy, three and a half year old son crashed into liver failure with no warning. Within days, Stephanie and the UHN team worked tirelessly to get the testing done in partnership with SickKids to test to find if she would be a match, and thankfully, within mere days, Stephanie became a living liver donor to her son, saving his life. We are later joined by Dr. Nazia Selzner, a transplant hepatologist and Medical Director of the Living Donor Liver Transplant Program at the Ajmera Transplant Centre, and Dr. Cynthia Tsien, Education Director of the Ajmera Transplant Centre. We spoke about diversity, equity and inclusion in transplant, both for professionals and for patients and families. We discussed how equity, diversity, and inclusion in transplant medicine are crucial to ensuring all patients have fair access to life saving treatments, regardless of their background, leading to better overall health outcomes, and how for professionals, fostering an inclusive environment enhances teamwork, broadens perspectives, and improves decision making, ultimately advancing the field and providing more comprehensive care. Please enjoy. The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network. For more information about Great Actions Leave a Mark, please visit greatactions.ca For more information about living liver transplant, please visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Liver_Transplant_Program  To register for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Transplant conference, please visit https://deiintransplant.com/  Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.

In this episode of the Living Transplant podcast, host, Candice Coghlan, was joined by Manuel Escoto, the Patient, Family, Donor Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilization Director at CDTRP, the Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program alongside Sadia Baig, the Programs Coordinator at the Kidney Foundation of Canada, Ontario branch. What is the common thread between the three of us you might be thinking? Well, all of us are not only working in the field of transplant, donation and chronic illness, but we're all living with kidney disease diagnosed at a young age. We speak about being diagnosed with a chronic disease, the mental and physical roller coasters, working in a professional field that we also have a personal connection to, what it's like to connect with others who are going through something similar, and the importance of advocacy and having a strong network of support. Join the three of us as we dive into these topics in a unique episode where the people with lived experience are also the experts in the field. Please enjoy. The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the offical policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.  For more information about kidney transplantation, please visit www.livingorgandonation.ca  For more information about CDTRP, please visit https://cdtrp.ca/en/  For more information about the Kidney Foundation of Canada, please visit www.kidney.ca  Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.

In this episode of the Living Transplant podcast, host Candice Coghlan was joined by Jillian Best, the first organ transplant recipient and one in only 72 people to ever swim across Lake Ontario in all of recorded history. Jillian trained, swam and built her mental fortitude so she could swim across Lake Ontario in 18 hours and 36 minutes. She finished the historic 52 kilometer crossing to raise money for the transplant unit who saved her life and her mother's. We are later joined by Dr. Marie Faughnan, a Lung Specialist and HHT specialist at St. Michael's Hospital. As an avid cycler and physician, Dr. Marie was healthy and ready when a colleague of hers experienced liver failure and was in need of a life saving liver transplant. She asked herself, why not me? She went through the process of going from a physician to a patient and became a living liver donor to save her colleague's life. Throughout this episode, we talk about perserverence, commitment, sacrifice and doing hard things with extreme bravery. Please enjoy.  The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network. For more information about living liver donation, please visit www.livingorgandonation.ca For more information about Jillian Best's swim across Lake Ontario, please visit https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/q-a-londoner-jillian-best-relives-her-historic-swim-across-lake-ontario/article_5b953b74-c9eb-5944-bb0f-88add77d74d8.html  To listen to Dr. Marie Faughnan's story and other living donors and recipients, please visit www.greatactions.ca  Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca Thanks for spending your time with us.

In this episode of the Living Transplant podcast, host Candice, was joined by Dawn Ethier, a police officer and mother of four. Dawn had thyroid cancer over 10 years ago. The cancer was treated, but she was left with hypoparathyroidism, which caused horrible side effects, changed her lifestyle, and took a lot of time away from her family, her work, and her life. Dawn did a lot of research, and with her advocacy and ingenuity, brought the idea of a parathyroid transplant to her doctors, who eventually found Dr. Karen Devon, an endocrine surgeon at UHN's Sprott Department of Surgery.  With only one other recorded case of this exact transplant in scientific literature, Dr. Devon was inspired by Dawn to do homework, connect with specialists around the world, and several years later, cured Dawn's hypoparathyroidism following a ground-breaking North American first procedure at UHN's Ajmera Transplant Centre. This changed Dawn's life, her family's life, and changed the future for patients. The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network. For more about Dawn’s story, and the team behind this North American first, please visit https://uhnfoundation.ca/stories/north-american-first-transplant-offers-mother-of-four-a-future-now/ For more information about Ajmera Transplant Centre, please visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca Thanks for spending your time with us.

In this episode of the Living Transplant podcast, host Candice Coghlan was joined by Kelsey Hannah, an OR nurse and mother who went on a journey of health and wellness to lose weight to save her mother's life by donating a portion of her liver to her. We talked about her journey of self reflection, empowerment, dedication, and what it felt like to juggle life while the clock ticked down getting closer to her mother needing that gift of life of a liver transplant. We were later joined by Chantal Wiggins, a Transplant Coordinator at the Ajmera Transplant Centre in the Living Donor Liver Program. We spoke about the processes that donors have to go through to ensure their health and safety, memorable moments in her career, and what it feels like to get to be part of a team that truly saves lives. The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.  To learn more about living liver donation, please visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx  Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca Thanks for spending your time with us.

WELCOME TO SEASON 5! In this episode, host Candice Coghlan was joined by Vanessa Tait, a Cree woman from O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation who put her heart and soul into supporting her father, Kenneth, through his kidney health journey. She uprooted their lives to move from her father's home community of O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation, over 700km north of Winnipeg, to the city to access dialysis, as there were no hemodialysis machines and no capacity to do home dialysis, with the lack of access to large amounts of water needed. While in Winnipeg, Vanessa was his primary caregiver. We spoke about their journey together, the medical barriers they and many other First Nations patients face, and the decision for Vanessa to give the gift of life, a kidney to her father, despite his chances of survival being long so he could live his days out in community, surrounded by loved ones.  We were later joined by Dr. Michael Anderson from the Urban Indigenous Community in Toronto. He is Mohawk Bear Clan and mixed European with family roots in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. He practices surgical oncology in palliative care medicine and is the strategic lead for Indigenous Health at the University Health Network. We spoke about ethical Indigenous community healthcare research partnerships, grief, healing, and Indigenous conceptualizations of death and dying. This episode is dedicated, in loving memory to Vanessa's "daddio", Kenneth. The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.  Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca Thanks for spending your time with us. *** CONTENT WARNING***  A note to our listeners, this episode comes with a content warning as we discuss death, dying, and palliative care. We also discuss barriers to care for Indigenous communities. This is simply to empower you, our audience, with the knowledge that you may need to make healthy decisions about how or if you should consume this podcast content.  If you need resources or support, you can visit the Hope for Wellness helpline, which offers immediate help to all Indigenous people across Canada, available 24/7 with immediate support and crisis intervention. You can call the toll free helpline at 1 855 242 3310, or you can connect to the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca. You can also reach out to the Bereaved Families of Ontario Organization at www.bereavedfamilies.net or call them at 416 440 0290.   For more information about the UHN Indigenous Health Program, please visit: https://uhnfoundation.ca/stories/fostering-a-healthier-relationship-to-improve-access-to-high-quality-care-for-indigenous-communities/  To watch Vanessa Tait's documentary, Gift to Give please visit: https://gem.cbc.ca/gift-to-give/s01  To watch Vanessa Tait's Great Actions Leave a Mark interview, please visit: www.greatactions.ca  To learn more about living kidney donation, please visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_kidney_donor.aspx 

In this episode, host, Candice, is joined by Melissa Sidhu who works in healthcare, is a passionate volunteer and living liver donor to her brother over 10 years ago. We spoke about her journey as a donor, relationships with loved ones, how to find tiny moments of joy and gratitude throughout this episode. You will also hear clips from members of the transplant community sharing their gratitude. The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network. To learn more about living liver donation, please visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx To listen to all of our submissions of gratitude, please visit https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13Di_gaucmChOR7tDB873mGsCQAgh9zkD?usp=sharing  To read messages of gratitude, please visit bit.ly/LDW23TX

In this episode, host Candice Coghlan sat down with Afsana Lallani, a cat lover and nursing graduate who made a public social appeal to find a living liver donor to save her life. They talk about being young and living with a chronic illness, facing death and how a supportive community can make all the difference. They are later joined by Dilshad Lallani, Afsana’s mother, caregiver and a pediatric nurse practitioner. She speaks about the family journey in supporting someone on the transplant waitlist, being an emotional support and what it was like being a nurse practitioner living through the process with her daughter on the verge of death.  The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or University Health Network. For more information about PSC, please visit https://www.liver.ca/patients-caregivers/liver-diseases/primary-sclerosing-cholangitis/  For more information about finding a living donor, please join one of the Centre's free virtual Finding a Living Donor Webinars, by registering at http://givelifeuhn.eventbrite.ca 

In this episode, we're celebrating Living Donation Week. Host, Candice was joined by Sylvie Charbonneau, past president of the Kidney Foundation of Canada, advocate, change maker, and living kidney donor to her son. We were also joined by Dr. Joseph Kim, Director of the Kidney Transplant Program at the Ajmera Transplant Center. We discussed barriers and changes that need to be made to increase access to organ donation as a whole across Canada and how we can support others to receive and give the gift of life. For more information about living kidney donation, please visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Kidney_Transplant_Program  For more information about the ODTC Collaborative, please visit https://profedu.blood.ca/en/organs-and-tissues/practices-and-guidelines/current-projects/odtc-projects  If you have questions, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca The views and opinions in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or University Health Network.

In this episode, host Candice, takes you behind the scenes of the Ajmera Transplant Centre's 2nd Annual Education and Research Conference, to hear about incredible science, clinical, and research aspects of transplantation. Hear from the following: Samrat Ray: Expanding the transplant pancreas donor, using an ex vivo perfusion model. Adriana Roberta: Determining the impact of certain mismatches, which are located in the DQ Loco and the development of chronic rejection. Javier Solera: The severity of COVID 19 Omicron variant and Omicron specific immune responses in solid organ transplant patients. Lakshmi Kugathasan: Systematic review and network meta analysis research in induction therapy in heart transplantation. Bonnie Chao: Machine learning approaches to processing and interpreting ex vivo lung radiographs and predicting transplant outcomes. Dr. Laura Donahoe: Improving the quality of lung transplantation through a technical skills simulation program for surgical lung transplant fellows.  Christina Lam: Fibrinogen like protein 2 molecule and how it influences the development of thymic regulatory T cells.  Luckshi Rajendran: The Toronto management of initially unresectable liver metastasis for colorectal cancer  in a living donor liver transplant program. For more information about the Ajmera Transplant Centre's program, please visit www.uhntransplant.ca  For more information about Dr. Laura Donahoe's Take-Home Surgical Anastomosis Simulation Model, please visit: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37202320/  If you have questions, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or University Health Network.

In this episode, host Candice Coghlan was joined by Justin Poy, a father, entrepreneur, and businessman who has lived with multiple types of renal replacement therapy since the age of 10, including three kidney transplants, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, as well as home dialysis. Justin spoke about mental health, resiliency, parenting with a chronic illness, and how to appreciate each day. Later we were joined by Dr. Samantha Anthony, the first person to hold the title of Health Clinician Scientist in Canada, Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Center, Department of Social Work, Child Health Evaluative Science Research Institute at SickKids. Together, we explored the medical journey and tools to support children, youth, and families created from the perspective of those who live with it. We also spoke about post traumatic growth and the whole family journey.  For more information about peer support, please visit https://kidney.ca/support  For more information about living kidney donation, please visit www.livingorgandonation.ca For more information about Dr. Samantha Anthony's work, please visit https://lab.research.sickkids.ca/anthony/anthony-lab/  If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or University Health Network.