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Live donor sought for B.C. man with failing kidneys

Darryl Gagnon, 48, wants to live to see his grandkids
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Former South Surrey resident Darryl Gagnon with his wife Amy and their children Trevor, Kevin, Lily and Harrison in an undated family photo. (Contributed photo)

Darryl Gagnon wants nothing more than to live to meet his future grandkids, and he91裸聊视频檚 hoping there91裸聊视频檚 a hero somewhere out there who91裸聊视频檚 willing to help make it happen.

The Semiahmoo Secondary alum, now 48, was put on a transplant list 91裸聊视频渁 couple weeks91裸聊视频 ago, about two years after learning 91裸聊视频 by sheer chance 91裸聊视频 that his kidneys were failing.

The news came after Gagnon91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频渇ourth new doctor in five years91裸聊视频 sent him for blood tests as part of a routine checkup. The lab work was something that, for no particular reason beyond the shifting physician coverage, hadn91裸聊视频檛 been requisitioned for some time, he said.

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While the father of four had no reason to suspect anything was amiss 91裸聊视频 no symptoms whatsoever, in fact 91裸聊视频 the results showed his kidneys91裸聊视频 filtration levels were 91裸聊视频渄angerously low.91裸聊视频

91裸聊视频淚t was already quite reduced by the time I found out,91裸聊视频 Gagnon said Friday (April 29). 91裸聊视频淚t would have been nice to learn this years ago and maybe I could91裸聊视频檝e cut the salt out and drank more water a long time ago.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not sure how it slipped through the cracks.91裸聊视频

Last week, following word a live donor was his best chance at a long life, Gagnon91裸聊视频檚 wife Amy posted an appeal on Facebook, describing her husband as someone who 91裸聊视频渓ives for his kids.91裸聊视频

The stay-at-home dad spends months every year planning a game-show themed Christmas morning just to see their eyes light up, and is similarly dedicated to making annual camping trips an experience to remember, recently organizing a Big Brother-style adventure.

He 91裸聊视频渘eeds a longer life to watch his kids graduate high school, get married, and have what he can91裸聊视频檛 wait for91裸聊视频,91裸聊视频 the Facebook post states.

91裸聊视频淲e can91裸聊视频檛 live without him,91裸聊视频 Amy told Peace Arch News. 91裸聊视频淗e just wants to see his kids grow up.91裸聊视频

According to the Kidney Foundation, kidneys are the most common living-organ donation and, the procedure is the most successful of all transplants. This is partly due to the increased time the process allows for tissue-matching, which reduces the risk of organ rejection.

On average, a kidney from a deceased donor lasts 10 to 15 years, while one from a living donor lasts 15 to 20 years, the site adds.

91裸聊视频淜nowing that most of my grandkids are coming 10, 15 years from now, (six months to six years on dialysis is) about the most that I have if I don91裸聊视频檛 get this,91裸聊视频 Gagnon said.

The Gagnons91裸聊视频 kids range in age from 12 to 24 years. The family has called Cloverdale home for 18 years, but Gagnon91裸聊视频檚 ties to the Semiahmoo Peninsula 91裸聊视频 where he still has family and friends 91裸聊视频 remain strong.

While he and Amy will mark 25 years married later this year, they learned while dating that he had first made her laugh long before that, when she was in Grade 9 at Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary and attended an improv show he91裸聊视频檇 hosted at Semi.

91裸聊视频淔or years, my brother and I talked about this funny guy who was at the show,91裸聊视频 Amy said. 91裸聊视频淎nd then when Darryl and I were dating, he said, 91裸聊视频榯hat was me.91裸聊视频

91裸聊视频淗e was such a standout, the funniest guy there.91裸聊视频

A knack for comedy landed Gagnon on Montreal91裸聊视频檚 Just for Laughs stage for a year, and he said he was offered a mini tour of the West Coast when he was in his early 20s. But he knew what he really wanted was a family.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 always been my priority,91裸聊视频 he said.

A registered organ donor himself, Gagnon said he realizes handing over an organ is no small ask, and it91裸聊视频檚 a question he91裸聊视频檚 not specifically put to family members, feeling that 91裸聊视频渋f they want to donate, they will.91裸聊视频

Amy said she 91裸聊视频渟at with it for awhile91裸聊视频 before making the Facebook post.

91裸聊视频淗ow do you go about asking someone for that? It91裸聊视频檚 so hard and so difficult,91裸聊视频 she said.

Many pledged to share the post and at least one commenter has said they have the same Type O blood as Gagnon, and have reached to the hospital about donating. Another said they didn91裸聊视频檛 know their blood type, 91裸聊视频渂ut I am going to find out and pray that I can help you my friend.91裸聊视频

Gagnon said he has been touched by the response.

91裸聊视频淚t was nice to know that the few people I91裸聊视频檝e let into my life definitely think it91裸聊视频檚 worth sharing,91裸聊视频 he said. 91裸聊视频淣ice to see that I91裸聊视频檓 loved.91裸聊视频

Not everyone can qualify as a donor, however, and the process of determining if someone is a match is rigorous. Just 17 per cent of those who put their names in the hat qualify, Gagnon said.

The process is also anonymous, with recipients only informed of a match when it91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频済o time.91裸聊视频

All living donation is managed through Vancouver General Hospital and St. Paul91裸聊视频檚 Hospital Pre-Assessment Transplant Clinics.

Anyone wishing to explore being a living donor for Gagnon may email kidneydonornurse@vch.ca, quoting registration number 24342.

Gagnon quipped that if he does find a match, and that individual identifies him or herself to him, they can expect huge thank yous in the years to come.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檒l be constantly sending them updates of me holding grandchildren, me going on vacation91裸聊视频 they91裸聊视频檇 definitely be my hero,91裸聊视频 he said.

91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檇 be on my mind everyday, for the rest of my life.91裸聊视频

In the meantime, he said he91裸聊视频檚 made it his mission to encourage others to get their kidney function tested regularly.



tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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Tracy Holmes

About the Author: Tracy Holmes

Tracy Holmes has been a reporter with Peace Arch News since 1997.
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