CALGARY – At any given time there are over 4000 Canadians waiting for an organ transplant but when Christa Campsall’s son was born 4 years ago, she never imagined he’d be on that list before his first birthday.
“He was born healthy,” Christa remembers. “No complications, and then when he was a five-month-old he got a virus.”
The virus attacked the little boy’s heart. Chace developed cardio myopathy and was suffering from heart failure. The family, who was living in Victoria at the time was sent with their son first to the Vancouver Children’s Hospital and then to the Stollery Children’s hospital in Edmonton.
“They decided to him on a Berlin heart and we had to wait for a transplant,” explains Christa.
Chace waited for six long months before a donor heart became available. He received a heart transplant just one month shy of his first birthday.
“When they said, ‘we have a heart for Chace’ it was kind of bitter sweet,” Christa recalls. “Because someone else is losing their child for us to get a heart.”
Chace recovered quickly from surgery and ten days later he was released from hospital. The family had been through a long, difficult ordeal, but Chace had received a second chance not every person on the transplant list will receive.
“Over 300 people died last year waiting for an organ transplant they just weren’t able to get,” says Michael Ravenhill, CEO of the David Foster Foundation.
Created in 1986, the foundation was created to assist families with the non –medical expenses incurred while children are undergoing lifesaving organ transplants. They foundation also promotes organ donor awareness and registration.
Sadly, Chace’s story doesn’t end with a happy ending. Last May, he suffered a fatal heart attack.
“His lips looked a bit blue, and then he put his forehead against mine and then he collapsed,” Christa recalls.
The loss was devastating, but just an hour after losing their son, Chace’s parents were asked to make a decision. Would they be willing to donate Chace’s organs to another child in need?
“Because of his anti-rejection meds, the rest of his body was pretty beaten up so there wasn’t anything we could donate except for his eyes.” Christa explains, “So we did, it was the least we could do.”
Three months later, the sadness is still overwhelming but Chase’s mother takes comfort in the fact the because of her son, two children can now see.
“It makes me feel good,” she says. “it’s a little bit of happiness in all the sadness we’re feeling.”
Following Chace’s passing, the Campsalls requested donations be directed to the David Foster Foundation and Alberta Chldren’s Hospital. In two months, more than $16,000 has been raised in his name.
To become an organ donor in Alberta, you need to inform your family of your wishes. You should also sign the back of your Alberta Health Care Card.
To learn more about the David Foster Foundation and Chace’s Legacy Trust visit: http://www.davidfosterfoundation.com
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