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 Highlights

Megan’s journey from childhood experience to becoming a living donor

Discovering the option of anonymous kidney and liver donation

What recovery was really like after both surgeries

Misconceptions about living and anonymous donation—and how to address them

Writing letters to her recipients and the emotional connections that followed

How Megan helped shape workplace policy to remove financial barriers for donors

Why living donors see their gift as life-changing not just for recipients, but for themselves

Takeaways

Living 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 Resources

Click here for more information about the Living Donor Circle of Excellence

Click here to watch videos of living organ donors and recipients of living donation

Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ Donation

Click 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 transplantation

Click here to watch videos of living organ donors and recipients of living donation

Centre for Living Organ Donation on Instagram

Ajmera Transplant Centre on Instagram

Each 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 Host

Candice 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 Resources

Dr. Marsh’s Website

Dr. Marsh’s TedTalk

The Fear Factor, by Dr. Marsh

Dr. Marsh LinkedIn

Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ Donation

Click 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 Instagram

Each 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 Host

Candice 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, 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.

In this episode, host Candice Coghlan sat down with Tara Lisabeth, who received not one, but two double lung transplants at a young age. She spoke about life with cystic fibrosis, what it felt like to take deep breaths and how transplant gave her the opportunity to walk down the aisle and get married. Later we were joined by Dr. Marcelo Cypel, the Surgical Director for the Ajmera Transplant Centre at UHN and UHN ECLS Program, among many other accolades, who also performed Tara's first double lung transplant. He spoke to us about innovations to expand the donor pool and create more viable lungs for transplant with therapies like light based therapy to inactivate hepatitis C virus, a universal blood type, lung preservation and repair with Ex Vivo, and what it is like leading and being part of a team who has now celebrated the 3000th lung transplant.

For more information about Cystic Fibrosis, please visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Lung_Transplant_Program/Pre-Transplant/Pages/cystic_fibrosis.aspx 

For more information about the UHN Lung Transplant Program, please visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Lung_Transplant_Program 

For more information about the Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion System, please visit: https://uhnfoundation.ca/stories/out-of-body-experience/ 

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily relfect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or University Health Network.

In this episode, host Candice Coghlan sat down with Shilpa Raju, an epidemiologist who finished her degree while battling cancer. She survived the cancer, however unfortunately the side effects from her treatment caused severe lung damage, resulting in her need for a double lung transplant. Shilpa spoke about being a young person battling illness and trying to keep a sense of normalcy and positivity through her day to day. Later, we were joined by Dr Mamatha Bhat, a staff hepatologist and clinician scientist at UHN's Ajmera Transplant Program and University of Toronto's division of gastroenterology. She speaks to us about machine learning and AI implications for health care and how it is going to revolutionize the world of transplant and beyond.

To learn more about Dr. Bhat's research in Artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning in liver transplant visit:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37208107/ 

For information about living organ donation visit www.livingorgandonation.ca or www.uhntransplant.ca 

You can also reach out to us directly 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.

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by Darryl Wallis, who was diagnosed with Hollow Visceral Myopathy at age one. He grew up in and out of hospitals and unable to eat, but about 16 years ago, he received a multi-organ transplant including a liver, bowel, stomach and pancreas, which gave him his life back. He was able to have a family and become a pharmacist and a few years ago, Darryl's son was diagnosed with the same disease. He also received a multi-organ transplant by the same surgeon, Dr. Anand Ghanekar, who is our expert guest. Dr. Ghanekar's practice focuses on abdominal organ transplantation. He joins us to discuss the rarity of multi-organ transplants and the privilege it is to have the opportunity to restore somebody from certain death to almost a normal life, and the personal connection he has to the success of his patients.

To learn more about the multi organ transplant program visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Pages/default.aspx 

Want to register your consent to be an organ donor when you pass? Want to see if you are a registered organ donor? Visit www.beadonor.ca and don't forget to tell your family about your wishes.

You can also reach out to us directly with any questions 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 the University Health Network.

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by Amber Needham and her living eye stem cell donor, Kathy O'Toole. They discuss how Amber lost her eyesight twice from unique situations. Amber, Kathy and Candice talk about their remarkable journey as Amber went from 2020 vision to blindness and how she was given a second chance with sight when Kathy donated stem cells from her eye. They are later joined by Amber's ophthalmologist, Dr. Clara Chan, who talks about fascinating innovation in science with stem cell transplants, the healing properties of amniotic membranes, and how her work is a lesson in humanity and the strength of patients. 

To purchase Amber's book, The Blind Girl Sees, visit: https://www.amazon.ca/Blind-Girl-Sees-Seeing-Through/dp/1039136869 

To learn more about Amber's charity work visit: https://uhnfoundation.ca/stories/amber-needham-rides-toward-vision-care-for-all/ 

If you are interested in learning more about stem cell donation you can visit:

https://www.blood.ca/en/stemcells/donating-stemcells/stemcell-eligibility-and-registration 

https://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Health_Information/Health_Topics/Documents/Living_Donor_Corneal_Limbal_Stem_Cell_Transplant.pdf 

Or reach out directly 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 the University Health Network.

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by Ivica, an opera singer who loves baking, teaching others, and above all else, his family. Ivica discusses his journey with kidney failure and how his brother stepped forward to be his donor, giving him back the strength to sing beautifully. Later we're joined by Margot Mitchell, a retired social worker who worked at UHN for over 20 years. She speaks of the importance of good mental health and how we can all move through grief to gratitude. 

To listen to more of Ivica's singing, check out @onetenorthreekidneys 

If you are looking to connect with Peer Support, visit the Kidney Foundation at https://kidney.ca/Support/Peer-Support 

UHN's Coping with a Transplant manual https://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Health_Information/Health_Topics/Documents/Coping_with_a_Transplant.pdf 

Or reach out directly to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca to connect with someone to share experiences.

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the offical policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the 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.

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by Charles Cook, an incredibly brave and vibrant person who is a heart and kidney transplant recipient. After far too many close cases with death, Charles has implemented the life motto of ‘keep bangin’. Charles and Candice are later joined by the one of a kind cardiologist, Dr. Heather Ross who is highly decorated with awards like Canadian Geographic’s top 100 Explorers and the Order of Canada. She talks about football, her childhood, Testing Your Limits and why the patient journey to her, is more than just treating the disease.

With special guest Millie, the Myers parrot.

To read more about Charles’ journey, visit: https://www.keepbangin.com/

To read more about Dr. Heather Ross & Testing Your Limits, visit: https://uhnfdn.ca/tyl/

For more information about the ACB Organ Health YouTube Channel, visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFFz8hoKUxTYltN1aX8nghA 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

In September, 2022, we launched Great Actions Leave a Mark, a national, multi-year public awareness campaign about living organ donation and transplantation. It has images and videos of living kidney and liver donors and recipients from across Canada. This week you will hear another story from a great actions model about their journey with living organ donation.

In this episode, host Candice was joined by Paul. Paul’s partner was diagnosed with kidney failure and told him about the three possible paths he could go down. Paul acted without hesitation, thinking he would be a good candidate. After vigorous testing, Paul and his partner found out he was a wonderful match, and they had a successful transplant. 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

To submit or share your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

To view the Great Actions Leave a Mark campaign, please visit www.greatactions.ca 

In September 2022, we launched Great Actions Leave a Mark, a national, multi-year public awareness campaign about living organ donation and transplantation. It has images and videos of living kidney and liver donors and recipients across Canada. 

In this episode, Host Candice is joined by Ian Goodall-George, who self proclaimed himself as the poster child for boring, but is anything but that. Ian is an anonymous, non directed kidney donor, meaning he stepped forward to donate a kidney to a stranger, just out of the goodness of his heart. 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

To submit or share your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

To view the Great Actions Leave a Mark campaign, please visit www.greatactions.ca 

In September 2022, we launched Great Actions Leave a Mark, a national, multi-year public awareness campaign about living organ donation and transplantation. It has images and videos of living kidney and liver donors and recipients across Canada. 

In this episode, Host Candice is joined by Ashley, a world traveller and horseback rider who donated a kidney to a stranger through the Kidney Paired Donation program. 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

To submit or share your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

To view the Great Actions Leave a Mark campaign, please visit www.greatactions.ca 

To learn more about the Kidney Paired Donation program, please visit https://www.blood.ca/en/about-us/media/kidney-paired-donation/backgrounder-kidney-paired-donation-program#:~:text=The%20national%20Kidney%20Paired%20Donation%20(KPD)%20program%20is%20an%20interprovincial,become%20a%20living%20kidney%20donor. 

In September, 2022, we launched Great Actions Leave A Mark, a national, multi-year public awareness campaign about living organ donation and transplantation.  It has images and videos of living kidney and liver donors and recipients across Canada. In the coming weeks, you'll hear stories from great actions models about their journey with living organ donation.

In this episode, Host Candice interviewed Craig Settee, a family man and marathon runner who donated a kidney to his brother just over ten years ago.

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

To submit your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

To view the Great Actions Leave a Mark campaign, visit www.greatactions.ca 

To learn more about organizations discussed in this podcast please visit:
Ajmera Transplant Centre: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant 
CanSolve CKD: https://cansolveckd.ca/ 
BC Transplant: http://www.transplant.bc.ca/
Transplant Manitoba: https://www.transplantmanitoba.ca/ 
TAP: https://transplantambassadors.ca/ 
Living Donor Circle of Excellence: https://www.livingdonorcircle.com/partner/cst 
PRELOD: https://www.giftoflife.on.ca/resources/pdf/PRELOD_Online_Brochure_April_2022_FINAL.pdf 
Hope Air: https://hopeair.ca/ 

Bonus Episode: Great Actions Leave a Mark - Jaime

In September, 2022, we launched Great Actions Leave A Mark, a national, multi-year public awareness campaign about living organ donation and transplantation.  It has images and videos of living kidney and liver donors and recipients across Canada.

In the coming weeks, you'll hear stories from Great Actions models about their journey with living organ donation.

In this episode, host Candice is joined by Jaime Watt, whose partner donated a kidney to him. 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

To submit your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

To view the Great Actions Leave a Mark campaign, visit www.greatactions.ca 

Bonus Episode: Remember This Living Donation - Len

During Living Donation Week 2021, we partnered with the podcast, Remember This, with host Amanda Cupido to highlight first person living organ donation stories submitted through an online app. In this episode, Len shares his story as a double anonymous, non-directed living donor, which means he donated a portion of his liver to a stranger, then he donated a kidney to a stranger!

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

To submit your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

For more information about Living Liver Donation visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

Bonus Episode: Remember This- Glenna

During Living Donation Week 2021, we partnered with the podcast, Remember This, with host Amanda Cupido to highlight first person living organ donation stories submitted through an online app. In this episode, Glenna shares her journey as a non-directed, living anonymous donor, meaning she donated 62% of her liver to a stranger! Enjoy!

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

To submit your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

For more information about Living Liver Donation visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

During Living Donation Week 2021, we partnered with the podcast, Remember This, hosted by Amanda Cupido to highlight first person living organ donation stories submitted through an online app. In this episode, Katie shares her journey as a living liver donor to her husband Simon and its impact on their family. Enjoy!

To submit your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

For more information about Living Liver Donation visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

Bonus Episode: Remember This- Palma
During Living Donation Week 2021, we partnered with the podcast, Remember This, with host Amanda Cupido to highlight first person living organ donation stories submitted through an online app. In this episode, Palma shares her journey as a living liver donor to her cousin Jess. Enjoy!

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

To submit your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

For more information about Living Liver Donation visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

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.

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by Natalie Theron, a liver transplant recipient who was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer the day before she gave birth to her daughter. After an incredible journey with cancer trials, chemotherapy, a HAIP pump and hospital stays, Natalie’s husband became her liver donor, effectively curing her liver cancer. Candice and Natalie speak about rollercoasters, motherhood, bravery and cancer muggles. Candice and Natalie are joined by her liver transplant surgeon, Dr. Gonzalo Sapisochin, whose innovative research is opening opportunities for patients to have living liver transplants to live longer lives, and for some people to be cured of their liver cancer.

To read more about Dr. Gonzalo Sapisochin’s research, visit: https://www.uhn.ca/corporate/News/PressReleases/Pages/Living_donation_opens_new_doors_for_colorectal_cancer_patients.aspx#:~:text=%E2%80%8BToronto%20(March%2030%2C%202022,that%20cannot%20be%20surgically%20removed.

To read more about Living Liver Donation, visit: Toronto Living Donor Liver Transplant Brochure.pdf - Google Drive

To read more about the Living Liver Transplant Program at UHN, visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

To read about Natalie’s art installation, visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F01b9_0t7mwa1ERgCPmWGawKhqNdRKZ5/view?usp=sharing

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by Team Delfina: Betsy Amores, Peter Budziak and their two amazing children, liver transplant recipient Delfina, and big brother Matthew. Peter and Betsy talk about their family’s journey with Delfina, who was diagnosed with biliary atresia, and later needed a living liver transplant to save her life. After a large media campaign and a surgery on her liver, mom Betsy became Delfina’s living liver donor. They speak about the impact it has had on their family, how to they love sports and supporting others going through similar journeys. Candice and Delfina’s family are joined by Delfina’s doctor, Dr. Vicky Ng, a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Toronto, staff physician in the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, and Medical Director of the Pediatric Liver Transplantation Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Centre at SickKids Hospital. They speak about biliary atresia, the transplant process, and how flying pigs, and clowns are just a couple of reasons why Sick Kids is one incredibly special place.

To read more about Team Delfina’s transplant journey visit: https://globalnews.ca/tag/delfina-budziak/

To read more about the Living Liver Transplants at Sick Kids visit: https://www.sickkids.ca/en/care-services/centres/transplant-regenerative-medicine-centre/liver-transplant-program/

To read more about the Living Liver Transplant Program at UHN visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

To read about Dr. Vicky Ng’s research, visit: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=vicky+ng

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by guest host, Ioanna Roumeliotis, a kidney donor to her brother who lives with Polycystic Kidney Disease. They discuss the process of donating, the ups and downs and how ordinary people can do extraordinary things, like saving a life by donating a kidney or liver. Candice and Ioanna are joined by Dr. Sunita Singh, Medical Director of the Living Kidney Donation Program at UHN. She describes the importance of donor safety, the process of becoming a living donor and how grateful she is to be part of such a remarkable journey.

For more information about living donation, visit www.livingorgandonation.ca.

To view Ioanna's journey on CBC, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIAk9BxJJo8 

To view the Great Actions Leave a Mark Campaign visit www.greatactions.ca 

To learn more about Dr. Singh's work, visit https://bbdc.org/members-research/singh-sunita/ 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by guest host, Maria Acero. They discuss Maria’s journey as a caregiver to her husband Luis, who was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis at the age of 15, and at the age of 47, was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma. In 2019, Luis underwent two liver transplants within nine days, saving his life, but leaving him and his family with a difficult recovery journey, spending over 42 days at Toronto General. Candice and Maria are joined by Dr. Margaret Herridge, who is a professor of Medicine, Critical Care and Pulmonary Medicine at UHN, a senior scientist in the Toronto General Research Institute and Director of Research for the Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Herridge was also a caregiver to her husband who received a living liver transplant from a colleague after a snake bite caused his liver to fail. Together they speak about how to cope as a caregiver and family, how to make plans, the emotional impact of these life altering situations and how a good cry can be therapeutic. 

For caregivers looking for information and support, please visit: https://bit.ly/cflodcaregivers

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

This is a special episode of Behind the Scenes at the Banff CST Conference.  The conference connects members of the Canadian Society of Transplantation with cutting edge science and leading clinical practices that can be used to advance the practice and science of transplantation in Canada. Host Candice Coghlan is joined by members who presented at the conference.  You will hear from Dr. Marcello Cypel about universal blood types, Ghazaleh Ahmadzadeh about the relationship between African, Caribbean and Black kidney transplant candidates and recipients and their healthcare providers in living donation, Dr. Deepali Kumar about boosters and antibodies preventing COVID in transplantation, Jeff Green and Ryanna Bowling who discuss a modernized pan-Canadian organ donation and transplantation data and performance reporting system, Dr. Caroline Tait discusses presumed consent legislation and why engagement of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit health leaders are key to decision making, Dr. Heather Ross speaks about women in transplant and how to test your limits and Dr. Massimo Mangiola, speaks about the immunology of xenotransplantation. We hope you enjoy this compilation from presenters at Banff CST.

For more information about the Canadian Society of Transplantation, visit https://www.cst-transplant.ca/ 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by guest host, Michelle Rambarran. They discuss Michelle’s journey as a new mom, learning she had spontaneous coronary artery dissection and what it was like to have a heart transplant, fearing that she may not see her son’s first birthday. Michelle had twelve amazing years with her heart, but needed a second heart transplant at the height of COVID. They discuss how to appreciate the little joys in life, moon face and how having a good support team can make the journey more manageable. Candice and Michelle are joined by Dr. Michael McDonald, Director of the Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Program, the Peter Munk Cardiac Center and UHN Transplant to discuss prevention, innovations and how some patients plug themselves in to charge at night.

For more information about the Heart Links program, visit: https://www.facebook.com/heartlinksgroup/

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by guest host, Chris Smith. Chris discusses how he became involved as an organ donation advocate through meeting his partner after she donated a portion of her liver to her father. Candice and Chris are joined by Dr. Markus Selzner, the Surgical Director of the Ajmera Liver Transplant Program at the University of Toronto and Co-Director of the Toronto Abdominal Organ Transplant Fellowship. Chris and Candice speak to him about the incredible process of donating a piece of your liver, advancements in liver innovation, the selflessness of living donors, and if the liver is more like a lizard or a turtle?

For more information about living liver donation, visit: https://bit.ly/uhnliver

For more information about the ACB Organ Health YouTube Channel visit: https://bit.ly/acborganhealth 

For more information about how to register your consent to be a donor, visit https://beadonor.ca/

To watch the Men Who Care Episode, visit https://bit.ly/menwhocare

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by guest hosts Joanne Kearney and Brendan Cahill, co-founders of the Centre for Living Organ Donation to tell their story of how Brendan became a kidney donor to Joanne through the Paired Exchange Program and how they used math to support their decisions and later pivoted to channel their passion and experience to help others.

Later they are joined by Dr. Atul Humar, Director of the Ajmera Transplant Centre as they discuss innovations in transplant, policy changes, what changes are coming to transplant and how to end the waitlist.

For more information about the Centre for Living Organ Donation visit www.livingorgandonation.ca

For more information about the Great Actions Leave a Mark campaign visit www.greatactions.ca

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by guest host, Mary Beaucage. As a follow up to the episode Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Mary discusses her kidney transplant from her cousin, barriers to transplant and her extensive advocacy work. Candice and Mary are joined by Dr. Istvan Mucsi, a clinical investigator and transplant nephrologist at the Multi Organ Transplant Program and Division of Nephrology at UHN. They talk about Dr. Mucsi’s work in research about inequities in transplant, how research findings can support patients and families to remove some of these barriers and how to build trusting relationships.

And what was that all about the camo pants? Mary wears camo pants when she travels to bring her good luck as she had a string of unlucky travel delays and since wearing the camo pants, it has resolved some of her troubles.

For more information about CanSOLVE CKD Network, please visit https://cansolveckd.ca or
CDTRP: Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program visit https://cdtrp.ca
ACB Organ Health Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFFz8hoKUxTYltN1aX8nghA 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by guest host, Alley Adams who lived with type 1 diabetes for over 30 years, and after three calls, received a kidney pancreas transplant on her fourth. They speak about what it is like to be diagnosed with a chronic illness at a young age, how that impacts your outlook on life, and how to find a living donor. Alley and Candice are joined by Andrea Norgate, Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Coordinator at University Health Network and non-directed, altruistic kidney donor. They talk about why transplant calls don’t always end in surgery, the ups and downs of the waitlist, and the goodness in people.

We love Andrea.

Do you have someone from the UHN Team who you love? Let us know by emailing us or posting it on social with #HearttheTeam

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

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.

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by Guest Host, Sara Murray, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at just months old. She brings us through her brave journey of what life was like as a child and young adult with cystic fibrosis and what it was like to receive “the call” for her lung transplant. Sara also discusses her journey in wanting to become a mother, and how her sister stepped forward to be her surrogate. Several years later Sara’s kidneys began to fail, and the same sister stepped forward to be her kidney donor. Sara and Candice are joined by Dr. Cecilia Chaparro who is the Director, Toronto Lung Transplant Program, Fellowship Program Director Respirology University of Toronto and Staff Respirologist at The Ajmera Transplant Centre and Cystic Fibrosis Program, St. Michael's Hospital. She discusses her passion for supporting people living with cystic fibrosis, the lung transplant program and how COVID changed the landscape for transplants.

For definitions of medical terminology used in this episode, please visit https://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Health_Information/Pages/medical_dictionary.aspx

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

Today’s episode contains material that might be difficult to hear. Discretion is advised.

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by guest host, Tamara Hartley- Harris who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a young age. Tamara’s journey is one that is filled with hardship, strength and love. She discusses living with diabetes, having a life-threatening health episode that sent her into a coma which turned her and her family’s life upside down, how she managed dialysis and eventually the call for a kidney pancreas transplant. Candice and Tamara share touching moments as Tamara speaks about how her husband and family got her through the hardest days of her life. They are joined by Dr. Sharon Bray, writer and workshop developer as they discuss how writing is therapeutic, how to get your pen to paper and what writing about your transplant journey is all about. Hear beautiful excerpts of writings about the transplant journey from transplant recipients and donors who participated in the Writing Your Transplant Story webinar.

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by guest host, Kate Chong, who received a kidney transplant from her husband. Kate and her husband have a two year old daughter, and she is pregnant, excitedly awaiting the birth of her son. Candice and Kate discuss their journeys in family planning, being pregnant, and the joys of motherhood while living with chronic kidney disease. They are joined by Candice’s obstetrical nephrologist, Dr. Anna Mathew, an Associate Professor of Medicine at McMaster University, staff nephrologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Director of Hemodialysis who discusses the process of family planning post-transplant, the considerations to be made before getting pregnant, and the hope for people wanting to explore this possibility.

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

Hosts Courtney and Brittany sit down with Indigenous storyteller and kidney transplant recipient, Mary Beaucage for an authentic look at the kidney transplant experience. From her crash start into kidney failure to new experiences of community to advocating for patient oriented research, Mary holds nothing back.

Read more about Mary’s transplant patient advocacy here.

Courtney and Brittany sit down with Tianna McFarlane, the founder of Heal in Colour, for something a little different but absolutely necessary. Launched earlier this year, Heal in Colour is revolutionizing the way people shop for bandages by creating a world where black and brown bandages are part of the norm. Find out how Tianna broke into bandage world and how Heal in Colour has brought Canada closer to true representation at home and in the healthcare world. For more about Heal in Colour visit www.healincolour.ca

Post-liver transplant coordinator, Shauna Watson and post-lung transplant coordinator, Pauline Harney join Courtney and Brittany to discuss their roads into the world of transplant, the day-to-day life of a coordinator, and how they stay organized with literally hundreds of patients. Shauna and Pauline talk about the joy of seeing patients thrive and the wins that keep them addicted to the world of transplant. Also in this episode: what coordinators miss (and don’t miss) about working on the floor, why you should send your coordinator pictures of your grandchildren, and Brittany likes wounds.

Courtney and Brittany are joined by Dr. Hance Clarke, Director of Pain Services and Medical Director of the Pain Research Unit at Toronto General Hospital. Dr. Clarke walks our hosts through his journey to pain medicine, the difference between acute pain services and transitional pain services, and the interaction between CBD, THC, and anti-rejection medications. Also in this episode: how to pick out the anesthesiologist in the room, misconceptions about opioids, and Dr. Clarke’s favourite non- pharmacological form of pain management.  

In the second and final part of A Heart Away From Home, guest Heather Lannon explains how she landed on her PhD research question: how is home connected to the transplant journey? After promising Jamie she would do her PhD, Heather talks about what it was like to jump into her research just two months after his passing (she blames “widow brain”), the pros and cons of combining the personal and the academic, and how she became a participant in her own research study. Part two of this interview delves deeper into the caregiver experience and examines the hardships and resilience of patients who need to relocate for transplant. Don’t listen to this episode without listening to part one!  

In this episode: 

Autoethnography is an approach to research and writing that seeks to describe and systematically analyze personal experience in order to understand cultural experience. This approach challenges canonical ways of doing research and representing others and treats research as a political, socially-just and socially-conscious act. A researcher uses tenets of autobiography and ethnography to do and write autoethnography. Thus, as a method, autoethnography is both process and product. (Read more) 

Caregiver supports  

·       Ontario Caregivers Organization  

·       HeartLinks Transplant Support Group (Toronto General Hospital) 

The Heart Pump Blues - Written and Performed by Jamie Wilkinson 

We’re back to hearts this week with Heather Lannon, Outreach Coordinator for the Centre for Living Organ Donation, PhD candidate and caregiver. Heather recounts her transplant experience which began when her and her husband Jamie relocated from St. John’s Newfoundland to Toronto in the hopes of receiving a new heart for Jamie. With an unbeatable sense of humour, Heather offers an in depth look at the caregiver experience. From honeymooning in Toronto General to welcoming an LVAD into the family, Heather’s story is a unique reminder of human resilience. 

In this episode:

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a serious but rare heart defect present at birth (congenital), in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed (transposed). Read more. 

The Mustard and Senning repair are two similar operations for TGA. Each is named for the surgeon who first performed the operation. In both, the surgeon creates a two-way baffle in the top part of the heart. This baffle serves as a bridge between the two sides of the heart. In a Senning procedure, the surgeon uses the patient’s own tissue to create the baffle. In the Mustard procedure, a synthetic material is used. Both are called “atrial switch procedures” because there is a baffle through the heart’s top part, or atria, which allows the blood to reach the ventricles. Read more.

VAD: A ventricular assist device (VAD) — also known as a mechanical circulatory support device — is an implantable mechanical pump that helps pump blood from the lower chambers of your heart (the ventricles) to the rest of your body. A VAD is used in people who have weakened hearts or heart failure. Read more. 

Jamie, Heather and Lennon 

In this special episode of Living Transplant, Courtney and Brittany host Explore a Career in Transplantation, part two of the Ajmera Transplant Centre’s Virtual Open House (May 19, 2021). Dr. Kathryn Tinckam, UHN’s Physician-in-Chief, Dr. Blayne Sayed, Liver Transplant Surgeon, Dr. Cynthia Tsien, Transplant Hepatologist and Education Director, and Joanne Zee, Senior Clinical Director of the Ajmera Transplant Centre, answer audience questions including what led them to the field of transplant, what keeps them motivated, and the most rewarding and memorable moments in their careers so far.  

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 Living Transplant’s first heart-focused episode, Courtney and Brittany sit down with heart function (not “failure”!) fellow, Mali Worme, and heart transplant recipient, Vino Ramachandran. Diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy 10 years ago, Vino walks us through what it was like to go from a “fairly normal life” to watching his health “fall off a cliff.” As Vino recalls some of the more challenging moments of his journey, including his wife being 8 months pregnant with their first child at the time of transplant, Mali provides insight into the technical aspects of Vino’s journey, what she learned, and why she loves her work. Also in this episode: common misconceptions about heart failure and transplant, celebrating milestones in the CVICU, and pre-surgery ginger ale cravings.   

In this episode: 

CVICU: Cardiovascular intensive care unit 

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that usually starts in your heart's main pumping chamber (left ventricle). The ventricle stretches and thins (dilates) and can't pump blood as well as a healthy heart can. Read more. 

Decompensated heart failure is defined as a clinical syndrome in which a structural or functional change in the heart leads to its inability to eject and/or accommodate blood within physiological pressure levels, thus causing a functional limitation and requiring immediate therapeutic intervention. Read more. 

LVAD: A ventricular assist device (VAD) — also known as a mechanical circulatory support device — is an implantable mechanical pump that helps pump blood from the lower chambers of your heart (the ventricles) to the rest of your body. A VAD is used in people who have weakened hearts or heart failure. Although a VAD can be placed in the left, right or both ventricles of your heart, it is most frequently used in the left ventricle. When placed in the left ventricle it is called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Read more. 

Become a registered organ donor at [beadonor.ca]BeADonor.ca

Jeff Robertson, founder of the PKD Foundation of Canada, joins Courtney and Brittany to talk all things polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Raised by a mother with PKD and a father juggling the roles of husband, caregiver and parent, Jeff learned firsthand what it means to live with chronic disease, as well as the life-altering power of transplant. With frank authenticity, Jeff talks about the ebbs and flows of fear that come with a hereditary disease in the family, why he started the PKD Foundation, mental health, and the importance of sharing your story. Also in this episode: PKD myth busting, what the resilience of chronic disease patients teaches us about coping during the pandemic, and the significance of the game Operation.  

Learn more about the PKD Foundation of Canada 

Established in 1993, the PKD Foundation of Canada has now positioned itself as a nation leader of clinical research and fellowship funding in the field of PKD. From the first research grant awarded in 1999, the PKD Foundation of Canada has set up chapters and support groups across the country, built an expansive and passionate volunteer network, and connected with PKD groups around the world to support our most notable fundraising event – the Walk to END PKD. Read more.  

In this episode: 

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited disorder in which clusters of cysts develop primarily within your kidneys, causing your kidneys to enlarge and lose function over time. Cysts are noncancerous round sacs containing fluid. The cysts vary in size, and they can grow very large. Having many cysts or large cysts can damage your kidneys. Read more. 

This episode was recorded in March 2021

Transplant pharmacist, Dipika Munyal guides Courtney and Brittany through the complex world of anti-rejection and immunosuppression (are these….the same thing? It’s like I learned nothing). From libido to infection to the effects grapefruit has on medications, Dipika explains the reasoning behind medications for transplant recipients, common side effects, and why it’s not all bad. Also in this episode: the golden rule of anti-rejection meds, taxes and drug coverage, and the future of transplant medicine. 

In this episode, Courtney and Brittany are joined by Toby and Bernadine “Bernie” Boulet, the parents of Logan Boulet. In 2018 Logan became an organ donor after he was injured in the tragic Humboldt Broncos bus crash. Logan inspired hundreds of thousands of Canadians to register as organ donors, resulting in an unprecedented increase in donor registration, a movement that came to be known as the Logan Boulet Effect. Toby and Bernie share their story with our hosts, discussing how Logan arrived at the idea of organ donation, saying goodbye at the hospital, and how they keep memories of Logan alive today. Also in this episode: what the Boulets have learned about organ donation and the transplant community since becoming advocates three years ago, how and why you should have the conversation about organ donation, and Green Shirt Day 2021.  

In this episode:

Register to be an organ donor: https://www.beadonor.ca/campaign/teamUHN

The Logan Boulet Effect & Green Shirt Day