Calvin's Transplant Story

CELEBRATE

the Gift of Life

WINTER 2022 | VOLUME 39

Calvin's Transplant Story Message from the Chairman Message from the CEO Message from the SVP, Fund Development Message from the Director of Family Relations Calvin's Transplant Journey Continued

Celebrating with Oak Bay Beach Hotel's 6 Oliver Bear

A Story of Perserverance, Thanks 7 and Survival

A Review of Spectacular 2022 8 Ways to Give 10 Thank You to All Our Partners 11

Organ Donation Facts

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Calvin with his dad, Loyd, and his mom, Christine.

Calvin’s Transplant Story

A transplant story through the eyes of a mother:

Just over four years ago, our world Calvin turned upside down the Saturday before TRANSPLANT Thanksgiving. My husband and I rushed our NEEDED: KIDNEY son to the Alberta Children’s Hospital as he HOME: CALGARY, AB had been sick on and off for two weeks with a cough and after numerous visits to clinics his condition had gotten worse. Five minutes into the ACH emergency triage the trauma team was called and we knew something serious was going on. Numerous blood tests were done and the fear of the unknown finally came to a halt when we were advised that our precious son’s kidneys were failing and he would need to be put on dialysis. That feeling of wanting to pause the moment and digest everything is so real. So many questions came crashing into our minds, the biggest of which was “why?”. We were scared to death, but we knew we had to remain strong. The only words that I could manage formed a question, will my son still live? We were assured that they would do everything to keep him alive and do the best they can. We were rushed to the ICU, I was hugging my son telling him that he was a strong brave boy and he would make it through. He was later diagnosed with Infantile Nephronophthisis, a rare genetic condition which can cause childhood kidney failure and was put on peritoneal dialysis. The Alberta Children’s Hospital was our home for almost two months.