The push to get Canadians across the country signed up as organ donors as part of the #48in48 campaign was successful, says the Communications Manager for BC Transplant.
In all, 12,500 Canadians had signed up to be organ donors by Friday afternoon, including 5,298 in British Columbia.
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“We’re starting to build a culture that is about embracing organ donation as a normal part of our life’s journey. If we don’t need our organs, why wouldn’t we given them to someone who can? We know that people lives have been saved, and we just want to make a difference,” said John.
In total, there are 4600 Canadians waiting for an organ transplant, including Tony Maidment. The Kamloops man was put on the transplant list for a new liver in 2011. He can’t have a live donor because of his rare disease, so now he and his family are stuck in limbo while they wait.
“I’m sure when the phone calls comes, it will be one of those surreal things,” he says.
– With files from Elaine Yong
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