This is week is National Organ & Tissue Donation Awareness Week (N.O.T.D.A.W) a week to think about becoming an organ and tissue donor and, more importantly, telling your family about your wishes.

More than 85% are in favour of  organ donation, but, only one in three Ontarians have actually registered and, with 1 person dying every three days waiting for a transplant…the need is high.

How do I know? Simple: my family is one of those stats. On March 16th 2006 and my father passed away after being on the heart transplant list. My dad was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, also known as an enlarged heart.

My dad and I shared a special bond, he was my daddy while I was his little girl. He had the most beautiful and bright blue eyes you would ever see, an infectious laugh and smile…but above all of that, he was one of the kindest, selfless and most genuine people you’d ever meet in life. He was the first to help a stranger and would do ANYTHING for his loved one. He and my mom taught my brother Jordan and I what true love means and to love what you do in life.

For 4 months, my mom brother and I waited and waited for him to receive the life-saving transplant but sadly it never became a reality. However, through the heartache, the tears, the grief…my mom had the courage to ask that if dad couldn’t be saved…could he be an organ donor? Turns out that yes, we was an eligible donor. From there, his liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas and even eyes were donated to those that needed it.

I can’t say the last decade has been easy without him. There have been a lot of tears and pain. My heart will always have a piece missing and will forever wonder what could have been. However, knowing that someone else is living a better life because my dad told us if he wanted to be a donor if he couldn’t get his life-saving heart.

in 11 years, my mom remarried my step-dad who treats Jordan and I like his own children, my brother is graduating University this June and I myself get to marry the love of my life in July and hopefully start our own family. I think of dad each and every day and remind anyone who will listen that Organ and Tissue Donation is so important, even just to start the conversation about what your wishes are in life.

You can hear more stories about why organ donation is so important HERE and please, take 5 minutes to talk to your loved ones about being a donor and register at beadonor.ca

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