Sisters, Bonnie and Valerie, suffer from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Without functioning kidneys, each sister must be hooked up to a dialysis machine for 8-10 hours a day, every day.
This is no way to live.

While dialysis keeps them alive, it is a treatment and NOT a cure. That's why Bonnie and Valerie need to find healthy kidneys as soon as possible.

We need your help to find a match!

The Power of Transplants

With kidney transplants, Bonnie and Valerie would regain their quality of life almost immediately.

Sadly the odds of finding healthy kidneys are low, particularly for Bonnie where her unique mix of antibodies means that only 2% of the global population is a potential match.

That's why we need to test as many people as possible to save their lives.

A simple oral (buccal) swab is all it takes!

The Power of Transplants

You Too Can Be a Donor

While most people are born with two kidneys, we only need one. 
Having only one kidney in no way affects your overall health. 

Did You Know?

Bonnie

As a teacher for over 35 years, Bonnie has shaped more lives than we can count.  Her friend network is extensive, and thanks to a carefully maintained calendar, she never misses a birthday, anniversary or special event. She’s also a volunteer, supporting various organizations, including the Kidney Foundation of Canada and Canadian Cancer Society which she has championed for over 25 years.

Most importantly, she’s a loving wife of over 40 years, a mom to two grown daughters, an aunt, and a Grandma to two amazing little kids, a vibrant 3.5-year old girl and a curious 8-mo old boy.  These kids love and need their Grandma tremendously, and there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for them.  Now Bonnie needs a kidney and we’re not going to stop until we find her one!

Bonnie

Valerie

Valerie is a vibrant, young at heart mother to five adult children (4 biological, 1 adopted), whom she raised largely on her own. 

Valerie is an empathetic individual who is passionate about helping others. This led to the adoption of her youngest daughter and to her eventual career as a psychotherapist. By supporting patients in their struggles and in achieving their goals, Valerie makes a significant impact on the lives of others daily. Valerie's compassion and care for others is unmatched. It is no wonder she maintains a full practice, and cares for 5 adopted animals (2 dogs and 3 cats), despite the severe impact of dialysis on her day-to-day life. 

Valerie is also a proud grandmother of a wonderful and dynamic, fiery-headed five-year-old boy. In her spare time, she loves to Zoom with him and looks forward to resuming their many playdates soon. 

Valerie
Two Sisters

Why Be a Donor?

Choosing to be a live donor is an incredible act of generosity. Kidney donation is a simple and straightforward procedure with a relatively easy recovery period.

By giving a piece of yourself and being a live donor, you are giving the recipient, their family and their friends the ULTIMATE GIFT.  The gift of life.

Why be a live donor

A Simple Cheek Swab is All it Takes

We need to swab as many people as possible to find compatible matches.

We'll send you a swab kit, swab at home and send it back. In 4-6 weeks we’ll know if you’re a potential match for donation.

The process of providing a cheek swab is fully confidential and in no way obliges you to go through with donation. Your swab acts as a preliminary test for compatibility. Any subsequent steps will be managed by appropriate healthcare professionals. Our role is solely as facilitators.

How To Help

FAQs About Kidney Donation

Why a Transplant? Why Not Just Stay on Dialysis?

There is no cure for kidney disease. While a dialysis machine acts as an artificial kidney, removing waste, chemicals and fluid from the blood, it is a stop-gap measure.  Dialysis keeps people alive, but at great cost to their quality of life. Both Bonnie and Valerie needs to be hooked up to a machine for 8-10 hours a day, every day, until they find healthy and matching kidneys.

There are also numerous potential side-effects to dialysis; discomfort, infection, blood clots, muscle cramps, interrupted sleep, low blood pressure, severely impacted quality of life...etc. Most notably, dialysis can lead to a reduced life expectancy. Also, the environmental impact of the waste created by dialysis is staggering.

Why Do We Need Live Donors?

Sadly the number of people awaiting a kidney far outweighs the number of kidneys available. In Canada around 3400 people are on the waiting list for a kidney (that's only 16% of those on dialysis). Additionally the survival rate for recipients of kidneys from a live donor is higher than that from deceased donors.

How Do I Know if I’m Eligible to Be a Live Donor?

If you are between the ages of 18-70 and are in good general health, you are eligible to be a donor. Should you be compatible with a recipient in need, a more comprehensive testing process will confirm eligibility.

What is the Process for Getting Tested?

Testing for initial compatibility is an incredibly simple process.  All you need to do is fill out a 2-page document, do a cheek swab, and mail the enclosed to our supporting team. They will route your swab to healthcare professionals for testing.  Should you be a potential match, you will be referred to the proper healthcare authorities for further evaluation.

We’re happy to facilitate the process, mail you all you need for basic testing and cover the cost of sending your swabs back. 

How Secure is the Process?

The process of testing is a confidential, no-pressure approach. You will be in no way obliged to do anything that you are not 100% comfortable with. 

Tell Me More About Donation?

Kidney donation is a simple and common laparoscopic procedure with 3 days to a week of recovery in the hospital. It then takes 2-6 weeks until you return to your normal activities depending on the physical demands of your lifestyle.

Does Donating a Kidney Make Me More Vulnerable to Kidney Disease? What if I Need that Kidney Later?

We only need one functioning kidney to clean the waste from our bodies. In fact, some people are only born with one kidney and live their whole lives never knowing. We don’t wish kidney problems on anyone, but if by chance, you one day get this terrible disease, it typically affects both kidneys concurrently- meaning both kidneys deteriorate at the same rate. Thus, having a second kidney in no way lessens one’s experience of the disease.

Why Work with a Non-Profit Group For Preliminary Testing?

On average, people wait from 3-6 years for a kidney. While the Ontario Health care system tests one potential donor at a time (which takes 3-4 months/donor), our non-profit partner, Renewal, provides supplementary services that help us to concurrently swab as many people as we can (in a delay of just 4-6 weeks!). This allows Renewal to determine initial compatibility, before putting the best candidates forward to further testing in the healthcare system.

In Bonnie’s case, her 2% odds of finding a kidney are much lower, so we don't have the time to wait for traditional processes.

 

Tell Me More About Renewal?

Renewal is a non-profit entity that provides support and guidance to both donor and recipient, including (but not limited to) expert referral, covering transport, food and lodging costs for donors and a loved one who wishes to be by their side, and any other type of assistance one would need as they go through the transplant journey. 

Additionally, Renewal can help to identify donor sources of outside of the sufferers network.  In Bonnie's case, due to her unique mix of antibodies and low chances of finding a match, Renewal has already opened up their list of potential donors in NY, increasing the odds.

To learn more about Renewal, visit www.renewal.org/toronto

Are There Any Financial Costs/ Risks Associated with Being a Live Donor?

Kidney surgery is fully covered by the Canadian healthcare system. Other potential costs to donors (such as lost wages, travel expenses ...etc.), are covered by Renewal. We want to ensure that your choice to be a live donor has no negative financial impacts for you or your family.

Aside From Getting Tested, How Can I Help?

You can help by sharing our story/ site with your networks, educating people about being a live donor, and signing your donor card. In Canada, currently only 15 people (per million) are live donors and only 22 people (per million) are donors at all. We are grateful for anything you can do to help!

Where Can I Learn More?

There are many great resources on kidney donation.  Check out some of these links:

Kidney Foundation

What is Living Kidney Donation?  Canadian Blood Services

Kidney Donation National Kidney Foundation

Ontario Renal Network 

 

Who Are We?

We are the family and friends of Bonnie and Valerie.  We are their children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, partners, cousins and friends.  We are the people who so desperately need them and yearn to see them healthy so we can share in many more years of joy and love together.  

We are entirely independent and have started this campaign to increase the odds of finding healthy kidneys for Bonnie and Valerie. We are committed to acting solely as facilitators, referring you to the right people to manage testing and any subsequent steps.  Any and all testing, evaluation, results...etc., will be managed by the appropriate healthcare authorities.

Most importantly, we are the people who are eternally grateful for any help you can provide to share our campaign and help us find healthy kidneys for these sisters.

FAQ

Contact Us

To request a swab test kit,  to learn more, or to share words of encouragement, reach out. We’d love to hear from you!

Info@kidneydonor.ca

Renewal.org

Or, if you prefer to contact our non-profit partner, Renewal, directly. Please reach out Esther Dick at:

renewal.dick@gmail.com

 

Get in Touch

Help us spread the word and
SAVE BONNIE & VALERIE'S LIVES!

Kidney disease can strike anyone.

Thank you to Third Wunder Marketing for your help with this site!

 

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