Living Transplant: Patient Stories | Organ Donation | Medical Experts

Emma didn’t see herself as brave — she simply saw a problem and knew she could help.

At 79 years old, Emma became a living kidney donor for her husband after he began dialysis. But the path to donation wasn’t straightforward. After initially being turned away during her first evaluation due to concerns about blood sugar levels, Emma refused to give up. She advocated for herself, gathered medical evidence from her family doctor, and wrote a heartfelt letter asking for a second chance to be assessed.

That persistence led her to the Toronto General Hospital Living Donor Program, where she was ultimately approved to donate.

In this episode, Emma shares the deeply personal journey of advocating for herself, navigating the evaluation process, and donating a kidney to the person she has spent her life with. She reflects on why she never felt fear about the surgery, how dialysis affected their lives together, and why she believes more people should consider living donation — regardless of age.

Now recovering just weeks after surgery, Emma is already looking ahead to what matters most: more time together, traveling again, and enjoying the life they’ve built side by side.

Her message is simple but powerful: if you are healthy and willing to help, one kidney can change someone’s life.

Links and Resources
Learn more about living organ donation: www.livingorgandonation.ca
Living Kidney & Liver Donation at UHN: UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre
Information Sessions for potential donors: givelifeuhn.eventbrite.ca
Becoming a living donor: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Pages/become_living_donor.aspx
Kidney Foundation of Canada – Living Donation https://kidney.ca/Get-Involved/Be-a-Living-Donor
Trillium Gift of Life Network – Organ Donation in Ontario
https://www.giftoflife.on.ca

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 [email protected]. 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 special International Women’s Day bonus episode of the Living Transplant Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Irene Kim — abdominal transplant surgeon, Director of the Transplant Center at Cedars-Sinai, and the Esther and Mark Schulman Endowed Chair in Transplant Medicine.

Beyond her many titles, Dr. Kim is also a mentor, a leader, and a mother. In this thoughtful and deeply human conversation, she reflects on the realities of balancing a demanding surgical career with family life, the mentors who shaped her journey in transplant medicine, and the lessons that come with leadership.
Dr. Kim shares why motherhood has been one of the most humbling roles in her life, how strong support systems make success possible, and why mentorship doesn’t have to be gendered. She also opens up about how personal experiences with illness can reshape the way physicians connect with their patients.

The episode closes with a powerful reflection inspired by author J.D. Salinger — a reminder that in a world constantly pushing us to do more and be more, sometimes the most meaningful realization is simply knowing when we already have enough.
In honour of International Women’s Day, this conversation celebrates the women leading, caring, mentoring, and shaping the future of medicine and our communities.

Links and Resources

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: https://www.cedars-sinai.org
J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye: https://www.amazon.com/Catcher-Rye-J-D-Salinger/dp/0316769487
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irene-kim
International Women’s Day: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
UHN Women: https://www.uhn.ca/corporate/AboutUHN/UHNWomen

Learn more about living organ donation: www.livingorgandonation.ca
Living Kidney & Liver Donation at UHN: UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre
Information Sessions for potential donors: givelifeuhn.eventbrite.ca

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 [email protected]. 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.

What really happens when someone decides to become a living kidney donor?

In this episode of Living Transplant, Candice sits down with UHN living donor kidney coordinator Melinda Skadorwa to unpack the full donor journey — from the first health questionnaire to surgery day and beyond. Melinda shares how she found her way into transplant nursing, what a typical (and often unpredictable) day looks like, and the most common fears and misconceptions she hears from potential donors. The conversation explores the emotional and logistical realities of donation, including financial barriers, white coat anxiety, and the importance of strong support systems. Listeners will also learn how innovative programs like Kidney Paired Donation and List Exchange are helping more Canadians receive life-saving transplants — even when donors and recipients aren’t compatible. Whether you’re considering donation, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about how living donation works, this episode offers an honest and compassionate look behind the scenes.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
How Melinda’s path led her into transplant care
What living donor coordinators actually do
Step-by-step overview of the living donor evaluation process
Common myths and fears about kidney donation
Life after donation: recovery and long-term outlook
How Kidney Paired Donation expands transplant access across Canada
The unique impact of non-directed (anonymous) donors
Barriers donors may face — including financial and system challenges
Emotional supports available for living donors
Advice for anyone thinking about becoming a donor

Links and Resources
Learn more about living organ donation: www.livingorgandonation.ca
Living Kidney Donation at UHN: UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre
Kidney Paired Donation Program: Kidney Paired Donation Program
Financial Support for Living Donors: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/financial-support-for-living-organ-donors-tickets-60824861799?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
Information about Becoming a Living Kidney Donor: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/information-for-potential-living-kidney-donors-tickets-62066475499?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

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 [email protected]. 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 speaks with Dr. Blayne Sayed, transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon at SickKids and UHN, about the complexity and emotional depth of pediatric liver transplantation. Dr. Sayed shares what makes children’s liver surgery uniquely challenging, how families navigate the transplant journey, and why long-term relationships between care teams and families matter so deeply.

They explore the powerful role of living liver donation, advances in transplant science and immune research, and emerging technologies like organ perfusion that may improve outcomes and expand the donor pool. Dr. Sayed also discusses the future of transplant care — including reducing immunosuppression, protecting organs from injury, and building stronger transition supports for children growing into adult care.

Did you know that when a child needs a liver donor, both donor evaluation and surgery take place at UHN — a powerful reflection of our strong partnership in pediatric living donor transplantation.

Key Takeaways

Pediatric liver transplantation involves highly complex, technically demanding surgery on very small patients.
Families often face a long and emotionally intense journey from diagnosis to transplant.
Living liver donation is a critical lifeline for children and helps reduce wait times and risk.
Strong collaboration between SickKids and UHN supports seamless donor evaluation and surgery.
Long-term relationships between transplant teams and families are central to pediatric care.
Research into liver injury and immune response may help reduce rejection and improve long-term outcomes.
New organ perfusion technologies could allow organs to be treated and optimized before transplant.
Some liver transplant recipients may eventually be able to safely minimize or stop immunosuppression.
Better transition programs are needed to support teens moving from pediatric to adult transplant care.
Innovation in transplant science is accelerating and holds real promise for children.

Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ Donation
Click here for more information about living organ donation.
Click here to learn more about liver transplantation
Click here to hear stories about living organ donors and recipients
Click here to learn more about Sick Kids liver transplant program
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 [email protected]. 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 heartwarming episode of the Living Transplant podcast, we welcome Bianca and Joseph to share the incredible journey of their daughter, Camilla. Initially born healthy, Camilla’s persistent jaundice led to a life-changing diagnosis of biliary atresia at just four weeks old. After a failed Kasai procedure, the family was thrust into survival mode at SickKids Hospital, facing the terrifying reality that their infant daughter needed a liver transplant to survive. Joseph recounts the emotional process of becoming his daughter’s living donor, transforming a time of immense fear into a story of profound sacrifice and paternal love.

The couple opens up about the unique challenge of having two family members in surgery simultaneously and the unforgettable relief of their reunification during recovery. Now nearly three years post-transplant, Camilla is a thriving toddler, hitting every milestone. Bianca discusses how they navigate “mom guilt,” the importance of normalizing Camilla’s transplant scar, and the vital role of the “poop chart” in early diagnosis. Their story is a testament to the resilience of families, the power of advocacy, and the miracle of organ 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 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 [email protected]. 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.