In this episode of Living Transplant, Maigen shares how a lighthearted comment between family became the beginning of an extraordinary journey. Rooted in love, resilience, and a deep sense of care for others, her story highlights the emotional and physical realities of living donation, the strength of family bonds, and the perspective shift that comes with giving a part of yourself to save a life.

From navigating the transplant process during a global pandemic to redefining her relationship with her body and her future, Maigen offers an honest and inspiring look at what it truly means to be a living donor.

In this episode, we explore:

• Maigen’s spontaneous decision to become a living liver donor during the early days of COVID-19
• How a simple “why not?” mindset led to a life-changing journey
• The realities of donor testing, including unexpected challenges like rapid weight loss
• Navigating transplant logistics and emotional stress during a global pandemic
• The importance of communication, advocacy, and support systems throughout the process
• What recovery really looks like—and how quickly life can begin to feel “normal” again
• The evolving meaning of her transplant scar—from insecurity to a badge of honour
• The impact of donation on family relationships, identity, and future outlook
• Advice for potential donors and caregivers navigating uncertainty

Links 

Learn more about living organ donation: www.livingorgandonation.ca 

Living 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

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.

Fadia opens up about the realities of invisible illness, balancing motherhood and a demanding career in education, and the emotional complexity of asking for and receiving help. She also speaks to the power of community through the ACB Organ Health Committee, and how advocacy, culturally safe care, and representation are critical in improving outcomes for Black patients.

This episode is a reminder that transplant is not a cure, but part of a lifelong journey. Fadia’s story encourages listeners to slow down, speak up, and redefine what strength truly looks like.

Key Topics

• Living donor kidney transplant and sibling donation
• Returning to dialysis after transplant
• Redefining “balance” and embracing rest
• Invisible illness and “you don’t look sick”
• Motherhood, career, and chronic illness
• The importance of support systems and asking for help
• Patient advocacy and being the expert of your own body
• Navigating the healthcare system and medical mistrust
• Cultural safety and equity in organ donation and transplantation
• The impact of community: ACB Organ Health Committee

Links 

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

ACB Organ Health Committee & Green Table Talk: https://www.youtube.com/@acborganhealth  

Black Health Alliance: https://blackhealthalliance.ca

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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 Living Transplant, we’re joined by Eugenia Chan, a pharmacist from the Transplant Outpatient Pharmacy (TOP) at UHN, to explore the critical (and often unseen) role pharmacy teams play in a patient’s lifelong transplant journey.

Unlike a typical pharmacy, TOP is fully integrated into the transplant program—supporting over 5,000 patients each year from the moment they leave the hospital and throughout their lives. From medication management to financial navigation, this team is a constant, trusted connection for patients.

Together, we unpack how this specialized care improves outcomes, reduces complications, and helps patients feel less alone in what can be an overwhelming experience.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why transplant pharmacy is different
• How TOP provides continuous, specialized care that goes far beyond dispensing medications.
• Medication adherence made easier
• The impact of blister packaging, delivery across Ontario, and proactive dose management in helping patients stay on track, catching complications early
• How frequent check-ins and strong patient relationships help pharmacists identify side effects and concerns before they become serious.
• Navigating medication fears
• Honest conversations about side effects, what to expect, and how care teams adjust treatment to fit each patient’s needs.
• What transplant patients need to know about over-the-counter medications, supplements, and everyday risks.
• Breaking down financial barriers
• How medication reimbursement specialists help patients access coverage, reduce out-of-pocket costs, and navigate complex insurance systems.
• The future of transplant pharmacy
• Innovations like blister pack automation, refill reminders, and text-based systems designed to make care even more accessible.

Links and Resources

Learn more about the UHN Transplant Outpatient Pharmacy (TOP): https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/TOP

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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 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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.



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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.

Listeners will also learn Kamika’s practical ABCDs of Advocacy, a simple but powerful framework to help patients and families navigate complex healthcare systems with confidence:

A – Adjust your attitude

B – Bring backup

C – Have concise conversations

D – Keep detailed documentation

The conversation also explores:

• Why representation in healthcare teams matters for patient outcomes
• How burnout affects healthcare providers — especially those from racialized communities
• What real cultural safety looks like beyond “checkbox” training
• How healthcare leaders, providers, and allies can use their privilege to create meaningful change
• What a truly inclusive, reimagined healthcare system could look like
• This episode is essential listening for patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and anyone committed to building a more just, compassionate, and equitable healthcare system.

Links

Centre for Living Organ Donation

Ajmera Transplant Centre

Code Melanin – Supporting Black, Indigenous, and racialized healthcare professionals and addressing burnout

The Black Birth Project – Advancing equity in maternal and birth outcomes

Green Table Talk (ACB Organ Health Committee) – Community conversations on organ health and equity

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.

Crystal shares her journey through kidney failure, dialysis, and transplant — not just as a patient navigating a complex healthcare system, but as a researcher working to transform it. She reflects on the moment she realized that life on dialysis could still be full of purpose, the importance of feeling seen within healthcare, and how cultural safety, trust, and community connection directly impact health outcomes.

Together, Candice and Crystal explore the systemic barriers First Nations patients face, including geographic isolation, under-referral for transplant, cultural mismatch in care, and inadequate navigation and relocation supports. Crystal introduces the Indigenous Kidney Health Project, explaining how Indigenous storywork and the Two-Eyed Seeing framework are being used to identify gaps in kidney care and reimagine more equitable, culturally congruent systems.

This episode is a moving, insightful conversation about advocacy, food sovereignty, patient partnership, and hope — and a reminder that kidney care must meet people where they are, honour who they are, and listen to the stories they carry.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Crystal’s lived experience as a dialysis and transplant patient shaped her research and advocacy
• Why feeling seen and heard is foundational to culturally safe kidney care
• The real-world barriers First Nations patients face when accessing dialysis and transplantation
• Why Indigenous patients are referred for transplant significantly less often — and what needs to change
• What the Indigenous Kidney Health Project is and why patient voices lead the work
• How Two-Eyed Seeing blends Indigenous knowledge with biomedical research
• The role of food sovereignty and traditional foods in kidney health
• Why connection, purpose, and peer support are essential on the kidney journey
• How healthcare systems can move from “cultural training” to truly individualized, respectful care

Key Takeaways

• Kidney disease is a lifelong journey — transplantation is not a cure, but a transition
• Cultural safety is not a checklist; it is built through trust, listening, and relationships
• Geography and relocation create profound inequities in access to kidney care
• Indigenous patients must be partners and leaders in research about their care
• Food, culture, language, and community are inseparable from health outcomes
• Purpose and peer connection can be life-sustaining during dialysis and transplant journeys
• Systemic change is possible — and already beginning — when patients are centered

Notable Quotes

“I was my own best case study.”

“I see you.”

“You can’t reform the system if you don’t know what people are actually living through.”

“Transplant isn’t a cure — it’s a different way of living with care.”

About the Guest

Crystal N. Hardy is a First Nations kidney patient, researcher, and advocate whose work focuses on Indigenous kidney health, cultural safety, and equitable access to transplantation. Drawing from her own experiences with dialysis and transplant, Crystal leads research that centers Indigenous voices, storywork, and patient partnership to address systemic gaps in kidney care.

If you are a First Nations patient, caregiver, or healthcare provider interested in supporting or participating in the Indigenous Kidney Health Project, Crystal welcomes connection, please reach out to cnhardy@lakeheadu.ca 

About the 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 kidney transplant recipient and board member of the National Kidney Foundation. Diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, Candice spent time on dialysis before receiving a living donor kidney transplant from her mother.

Resources & Links

Learn more about living organ donation: www.livingorgandonation.ca

Living Kidney Donation at UHN: UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre

Living with Kidney Disease Thunder Bay Event Recording: Living with Kidney Disease

Crystal Hardy Story 1:49:56

CanSOLVE CKD Indigenous People’s Engagement & Research Council

Get In Touch

Have questions, comments, or ideas for a future episode?

Email the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

A transplant isn’t a cure, but there have been significant advances over the last 25 years. Amy takes us back to the year 2000, discussing the technological landscape of transplantation at the time and how laparoscopic surgery was a groundbreaking procedure for her donor, her sister Kelly. Candice and Amy discuss the evolution of transplant care, from the early days of "Timex watch" medication reminders to the modern era of health tech.

Listeners will hear inspiring stories about Amy’s high-risk pregnancy with twins, the messy, emotional realities of recovery, including a memorable blender explosion and her hopes for the future, from organ cloning dreams to simply staying healthy to watch her kids grow. 

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, newly transplanted, or decades into your journey, a caregiver or a medical professional, this conversation offers inspiration, humour, and a unique perspective drawn from decades of lived transplant experience. It’s a powerful testament to the longevity and quality of life possible after transplantation.

Key Takeaways:

• The 25-Year Milestone: Amy reflects on living longer with her transplant than without it.
• Pregnancy and Twins: A look at the rare and high-risk journey of carrying twins as a transplant recipient and the medical curiosity it sparked at St. Michael's Hospital.
• Technological Advancements: How transplant surgery and aftercare have evolved over the last two decades.
• Balancing Act: Insights on managing a career as a serial entrepreneur and podcast producer while prioritizing health and family.
• Mental Resilience: Overcoming the trauma of diagnosis and the importance of community support.

Links and Resources

Chef Over Your Shoulder Podcast

Bespoke Productions

Kidney Foundation Peer Support

Pregnancy & Kidney Disease

Transplant Pregnancy Registry

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.

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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, We Cover:

• The Early Days: What transplant medicine looked like in 1975 versus today.
• The Game Changers: How drugs like Cyclosporine revolutionized survival rates.
• The Science of Matching: Understanding HLA antigens and the breakthrough of the Paired Donation Program.
• Future Horizons: Xenotransplantation and the dream of eliminating anti-rejection medication.
• Hard Truths: Dr. Cole’s candid advice on patient advocacy and the realities of a medical career.

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.

Key Takeaways

• We need to practice failure in a safe space.
• Mistakes should not be equated with life-threatening situations.
• Emotional training is essential for risk assessment.
• Not every failure leads to significant consequences.
• Understanding the context of mistakes is crucial for growth.
• Teaching students about failure prepares them for real life.
• Practicing in a controlled environment builds confidence.
• Life lessons often come from making mistakes.
• Differentiating between minor and major risks is vital.
• Emotional health is impacted by our perception of failure.

Links and Resources

Improv for Anxiety

One Man’s Solution for Crushing Anxiety: Improv

Play with Fire Improv

Brene Brown TED Talk: The Power of Vulnerability

Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Richard Schwartz

The Power of Addiction and The Addiction of Power: Gabor Maté at TEDxRio+20

Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ Donation

Learn more about Living Organ Donation

Learn more about Kidney Transplantation

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.

From her early fascination with microbiology to leading pandemic preparedness at one of Canada’s largest hospitals, Dr. Hota shares her journey, insights from the frontlines of COVID-19, and how collaboration and relationships underpin every breakthrough in healthcare.

We then explore the gut microbiome — the “hidden organ” inside us — and how FMT offers new hope for patients living with recurrent C. diff. Dr. Hota also demystifies the donor process, potential risks, and the exciting future of microbiome research that could transform how we treat everything from gut disorders to mental health.

Key Takeaways

• Hope and healing: Even for those with chronic or recurrent infections, there are innovative treatments that can restore quality of life.
• Relationships matter: Whether in outbreak response or research, collaboration is key to success in healthcare.
• Your gut is an ecosystem: FMT is changing how we think about disease — focusing on restoring balance, not just killing bacteria.
• The future is bright: As microbiome science advances, new possibilities are emerging for treating conditions far beyond infection.

About our Guest

Dr. Susy Hota is the Division Head of Infectious Diseases at UHN and Sinai Health and the Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at UHN. She has been a leader in pandemic preparedness, infection control, and innovative treatments such as fecal microbiota transplantation. Her work bridges clinical care, research, and systems-level leadership to improve safety and health outcomes for patients across Canada.

Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ Donation

Learn more about Living Organ Donation

Learn more about Kidney Transplantation

Learn more about Dr. Hota’s research and fecal transplantation

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.

The conversation dives deep into the realities of recovery, relapse prevention, financial barriers, and the emotional toll of transplant life — for both patients and families. Sasha emphasizes compassion, honesty, and the importance of recognizing addiction as a health condition, not a moral failing. Together, Candice and Sasha explore the meaning of resilience, the need for peer and mental health support, and the small acts of kindness that make a lasting impact in healthcare.

Key Takeaways

• Addiction is a health condition and should be treated with empathy and understanding.
• Mental health support is just as critical as physical care in the transplant process.
• Family and caregivers play an essential role in a patient’s recovery journey.
• Financial challenges and access to mental health care remain major barriers for many patients.
• Peer support networks are transformative but still lacking for liver transplant patients.
• Honesty and emotional validation are key tools for social workers supporting transplant patients.
• It’s okay to not feel okay — emotional lows are part of the transplant journey.

Resources & Links

Learn more about Living Organ Donation

Learn more about Living Liver Donation

Learn more about Mental Health supports available

Centre for Living Organ Donation on Instagram

Ajmera Transplant Centre on Instagram

About the Podcast

Each episode of Living Transplant shares real stories from transplant recipients, living donors, and healthcare experts. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or simply curious about organ donation, you’ll hear honest conversations about resilience, hope, and the life-changing power of organ transplantation.

About the Host

Candice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre, a kidney transplant recipient, and a board member for the National Kidney Foundation.

Contact

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.

Mary opens up about her struggles with addiction, mental health, and identity, sharing how her liver transplant became a turning point toward healing — both physically and emotionally. She discusses the often-overlooked connection between mental and physical health, the stigma surrounding addiction, and the life-changing power of receiving an accurate diagnosis after years of being misunderstood.

This honest and heartfelt conversation reminds us that healing doesn’t end with surgery — it continues with self-discovery, support, and breaking the silence around mental health.

Key Takeaways

• Mental and physical health are deeply interconnected — both deserve equal attention.
• Addiction and mental health struggles are health issues, not moral failings.
• Advocacy starts small: asking for help is an act of bravery, advocacy is crucial in navigating the healthcare system
• Receiving a transplant can awaken gratitude, but also complex emotions that deserve space and care.
• A proper diagnosis can completely change a person’s quality of life.
• Breaking the stigma around mental health begins with open, honest conversations.
• Community and compassion are powerful forces in recovery.
• Mental health challenges often go unseen and misunderstood.
• Organ donation is a life-changing gift that impacts families.
• Everyone struggles with something; it's important to talk about it.

Links and Resources

More information about living organ donation

More information about living liver transplantation

Centre for Living Organ Donation on Instagram

Ajmera Transplant Centre on Instagram

Canadian Mental Health Association

About Our Guest

Mary R. — Liver transplant recipient and mental health advocate.

Her story highlights resilience, hope, and the importance of treating the whole person, not just the body.

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.

Together, they explore what motivates someone to step forward for such extraordinary acts of altruism, the recovery journey, and the myths and misconceptions around anonymous donation. Megan also shares how her experiences as a donor inspired her advocacy work, including pushing for paid leave for living donors through the Living Donor Circle of Excellence.

This conversation highlights not only the bravery of living donors but also the ripple effects their generosity creates in workplaces, families, and communities.

Episode Highlights

Megan’s journey from childhood experience to becoming a living donor

Discovering the option of anonymous kidney and liver donation

What recovery was really like after both surgeries

Misconceptions about living and anonymous donation—and how to address them

Writing letters to her recipients and the emotional connections that followed

How Megan helped shape workplace policy to remove financial barriers for donors

Why living donors see their gift as life-changing not just for recipients, but for themselves

Takeaways

Living donors undergo thorough medical and psychological screening to ensure safety.

Recovery from kidney and liver donation is often faster and easier than many assume.

Community support and employer recognition play a vital role in making donation possible.

Altruism can be a powerful force that reshapes not only individual lives but also public policy.

Every act of donation—whether blood, organs, or advocacy—creates ripples of hope.

Links and Resources

Click here for more information about the Living Donor Circle of Excellence

Click here to watch videos of living organ donors and recipients of living 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 living liver transplantation

Click here to watch videos of living organ donors and recipients of living donation

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.

Dr. Marsh also reveals the genetic factors that shape empathy and altruistic tendencies, while challenging the misconception that altruism is irrational or abnormal. She contrasts the media’s frequent focus on negative aspects of human nature with the lived experiences of donors, who describe profound feelings of honor and fulfillment after giving the gift of life.

Throughout the conversation, personal stories from living organ donors underscore the importance of community support for both donors and recipients. Dr. Marsh emphasizes the power of education and awareness to dispel myths about donation and highlights that altruism is not only a natural human trait but also one that can be nurtured and encouraged in all of us.

Links and Resources

Dr. Marsh’s Website

Dr. Marsh’s TedTalk

The Fear Factor, by Dr. Marsh

Dr. Marsh LinkedIn

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 livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. 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.

We're later joined by Christine Bruce, the Senior Director of Laboratory Medicine at UHN. Not only is Christine the Director of the program, which is incredibly instrumental in all parts of transplant, but she is also an anonymous kidney donor. After reading an email we sent out about Living Donation Week, Christine made the decision that she would fill out her health history form and wait six months to see if she was still passionate about the opportunity to become a donor. And when she decided she was, her path to transplant was unique, as she went from a practitioner to a patient. Please enjoy.  

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

For more information about living organ donation, please visit www.livingorgandonation.ca

For more information about living kidney transplantation, please visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_kidney_donor.aspx

For more information about Polycystic Kidney Disease, please visit https://www.endpkd.ca/ 

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.

We discuss hope for those waiting, the details and intricacies of the Kidney Paired Donation Program, and the gratitude we have for organ donors. Please enjoy.  

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the offical policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network. 

For more information about kidney transplantation, please visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Kidney_Transplant_Program 

For more information about the Kidney Paired Donation Program, please visit: https://www.blood.ca/en/organs-tissues/living-organ-donation/kidney-paired-donation 

To watch Winnie & Fadia's story on Great Actions, please visit: greatactions.ca 

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca.

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.

For more information about Great Actions Leave a Mark, please visit greatactions.ca

For more information about living liver transplant, please visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Liver_Transplant_Program 

To register for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Transplant conference, please visit https://deiintransplant.com/ 

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca.

Thanks for spending your time with us.

We speak about being diagnosed with a chronic disease, the mental and physical roller coasters, working in a professional field that we also have a personal connection to, what it's like to connect with others who are going through something similar, and the importance of advocacy and having a strong network of support. Join the three of us as we dive into these topics in a unique episode where the people with lived experience are also the experts in the field. Please enjoy.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the offical policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network. 

For more information about kidney transplantation, please visit www.livingorgandonation.ca 

For more information about CDTRP, please visit https://cdtrp.ca/en/ 

For more information about the Kidney Foundation of Canada, please visit www.kidney.ca 

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca.

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.

For more information about living liver donation, please visit www.livingorgandonation.ca

For more information about Jillian Best's swim across Lake Ontario, please visit https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/q-a-londoner-jillian-best-relives-her-historic-swim-across-lake-ontario/article_5b953b74-c9eb-5944-bb0f-88add77d74d8.html 

To listen to Dr. Marie Faughnan's story and other living donors and recipients, please visit www.greatactions.ca 

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

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.

For more about Dawn’s story, and the team behind this North American first, please visit https://uhnfoundation.ca/stories/north-american-first-transplant-offers-mother-of-four-a-future-now/

For more information about Ajmera Transplant Centre, please visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

Thanks for spending your time with us.

We were later joined by Chantal Wiggins, a Transplant Coordinator at the Ajmera Transplant Centre in the Living Donor Liver Program. We spoke about the processes that donors have to go through to ensure their health and safety, memorable moments in her career, and what it feels like to get to be part of a team that truly saves lives.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network. 

To learn more about living liver donation, please visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx 

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

Thanks for spending your time with us.

We were later joined by Dr. Michael Anderson from the Urban Indigenous Community in Toronto. He is Mohawk Bear Clan and mixed European with family roots in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. He practices surgical oncology in palliative care medicine and is the strategic lead for Indigenous Health at the University Health Network. We spoke about ethical Indigenous community healthcare research partnerships, grief, healing, and Indigenous conceptualizations of death and dying.

This episode is dedicated, in loving memory to Vanessa's "daddio", Kenneth.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network. 

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

Thanks for spending your time with us.

*** CONTENT WARNING***
 A note to our listeners, this episode comes with a content warning as we discuss death, dying, and palliative care. We also discuss barriers to care for Indigenous communities. This is simply to empower you, our audience, with the knowledge that you may need to make healthy decisions about how or if you should consume this podcast content.  If you need resources or support, you can visit the Hope for Wellness helpline, which offers immediate help to all Indigenous people across Canada, available 24/7 with immediate support and crisis intervention. You can call the toll free helpline at 1 855 242 3310, or you can connect to the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca. You can also reach out to the Bereaved Families of Ontario Organization at www.bereavedfamilies.net or call them at 416 440 0290.  

For more information about the UHN Indigenous Health Program, please visit: https://uhnfoundation.ca/stories/fostering-a-healthier-relationship-to-improve-access-to-high-quality-care-for-indigenous-communities/ 

To watch Vanessa Tait's documentary, Gift to Give please visit: https://gem.cbc.ca/gift-to-give/s01 

To watch Vanessa Tait's Great Actions Leave a Mark interview, please visit: www.greatactions.ca 

To learn more about living kidney donation, please visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_kidney_donor.aspx 

You will also hear clips from members of the transplant community sharing their gratitude.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

To learn more about living liver donation, please visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

To listen to all of our submissions of gratitude, please visit https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13Di_gaucmChOR7tDB873mGsCQAgh9zkD?usp=sharing 

To read messages of gratitude, please visit bit.ly/LDW23TX

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or University Health Network.

For more information about PSC, please visit https://www.liver.ca/patients-caregivers/liver-diseases/primary-sclerosing-cholangitis/ 

For more information about finding a living donor, please join one of the Centre's free virtual Finding a Living Donor Webinars, by registering at http://givelifeuhn.eventbrite.ca 

For more information about living kidney donation, please visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Kidney_Transplant_Program 

For more information about the ODTC Collaborative, please visit https://profedu.blood.ca/en/organs-and-tissues/practices-and-guidelines/current-projects/odtc-projects 

If you have questions, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

The views and opinions in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or University Health Network.

Samrat Ray: Expanding the transplant pancreas donor, using an ex vivo perfusion model.

Adriana Roberta: Determining the impact of certain mismatches, which are located in the DQ Loco and the development of chronic rejection.

Javier Solera: The severity of COVID 19 Omicron variant and Omicron specific immune responses in solid organ transplant patients.

Lakshmi Kugathasan: Systematic review and network meta analysis research in induction therapy in heart transplantation.

Bonnie Chao: Machine learning approaches to processing and interpreting ex vivo lung radiographs and predicting transplant outcomes.

Dr. Laura Donahoe: Improving the quality of lung transplantation through a technical skills simulation program for surgical lung transplant fellows. 

Christina Lam: Fibrinogen like protein 2 molecule and how it influences the development of thymic regulatory T cells. 

Luckshi Rajendran: The Toronto management of initially unresectable liver metastasis for colorectal cancer  in a living donor liver transplant program.

For more information about the Ajmera Transplant Centre's program, please visit www.uhntransplant.ca 

For more information about Dr. Laura Donahoe's Take-Home Surgical Anastomosis Simulation Model, please visit: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37202320/ 

If you have questions, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or University Health Network.

For more information about peer support, please visit https://kidney.ca/support 

For more information about living kidney donation, please visit www.livingorgandonation.ca

For more information about Dr. Samantha Anthony's work, please visit https://lab.research.sickkids.ca/anthony/anthony-lab/ 

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or University Health Network.

For more information about Cystic Fibrosis, please visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Lung_Transplant_Program/Pre-Transplant/Pages/cystic_fibrosis.aspx 

For more information about the UHN Lung Transplant Program, please visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Lung_Transplant_Program 

For more information about the Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion System, please visit: https://uhnfoundation.ca/stories/out-of-body-experience/ 

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily relfect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or University Health Network.

To learn more about Dr. Bhat's research in Artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning in liver transplant visit:  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37208107/ 

For information about living organ donation visit www.livingorgandonation.ca or www.uhntransplant.ca 

You can also reach out to us directly at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca 

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or University Health Network.

To learn more about the multi organ transplant program visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Pages/default.aspx 

Want to register your consent to be an organ donor when you pass? Want to see if you are a registered organ donor? Visit www.beadonor.ca and don't forget to tell your family about your wishes.

You can also reach out to us directly with any questions at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

To purchase Amber's book, The Blind Girl Sees, visit: https://www.amazon.ca/Blind-Girl-Sees-Seeing-Through/dp/1039136869 

To learn more about Amber's charity work visit: https://uhnfoundation.ca/stories/amber-needham-rides-toward-vision-care-for-all/ 

If you are interested in learning more about stem cell donation you can visit:

https://www.blood.ca/en/stemcells/donating-stemcells/stemcell-eligibility-and-registration 

https://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Health_Information/Health_Topics/Documents/Living_Donor_Corneal_Limbal_Stem_Cell_Transplant.pdf 

Or reach out directly to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

To listen to more of Ivica's singing, check out @onetenorthreekidneys 

If you are looking to connect with Peer Support, visit the Kidney Foundation at https://kidney.ca/Support/Peer-Support 

UHN's Coping with a Transplant manual https://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Health_Information/Health_Topics/Documents/Coping_with_a_Transplant.pdf 

Or reach out directly to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca to connect with someone to share experiences.

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the offical policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

With special guest Millie, the Myers parrot.

To read more about Charles’ journey, visit: https://www.keepbangin.com/

To read more about Dr. Heather Ross & Testing Your Limits, visit: https://uhnfdn.ca/tyl/

For more information about the ACB Organ Health YouTube Channel, visit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFFz8hoKUxTYltN1aX8nghA 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

In this episode, host Candice was joined by Paul. Paul’s partner was diagnosed with kidney failure and told him about the three possible paths he could go down. Paul acted without hesitation, thinking he would be a good candidate. After vigorous testing, Paul and his partner found out he was a wonderful match, and they had a successful transplant. 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

To submit or share your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

To view the Great Actions Leave a Mark campaign, please visit www.greatactions.ca 

In this episode, Host Candice is joined by Ian Goodall-George, who self proclaimed himself as the poster child for boring, but is anything but that. Ian is an anonymous, non directed kidney donor, meaning he stepped forward to donate a kidney to a stranger, just out of the goodness of his heart. 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

To submit or share your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

To view the Great Actions Leave a Mark campaign, please visit www.greatactions.ca 

In this episode, Host Candice is joined by Ashley, a world traveller and horseback rider who donated a kidney to a stranger through the Kidney Paired Donation program. 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

To submit or share your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

To view the Great Actions Leave a Mark campaign, please visit www.greatactions.ca 

To learn more about the Kidney Paired Donation program, please visit https://www.blood.ca/en/about-us/media/kidney-paired-donation/backgrounder-kidney-paired-donation-program#:~:text=The%20national%20Kidney%20Paired%20Donation%20(KPD)%20program%20is%20an%20interprovincial,become%20a%20living%20kidney%20donor. 

In this episode, Host Candice interviewed Craig Settee, a family man and marathon runner who donated a kidney to his brother just over ten years ago.

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

To submit your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

To view the Great Actions Leave a Mark campaign, visit www.greatactions.ca 

To learn more about organizations discussed in this podcast please visit:
Ajmera Transplant Centre: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant 
CanSolve CKD: https://cansolveckd.ca/ 
BC Transplant: http://www.transplant.bc.ca/
Transplant Manitoba: https://www.transplantmanitoba.ca/ 
TAP: https://transplantambassadors.ca/ 
Living Donor Circle of Excellence: https://www.livingdonorcircle.com/partner/cst 
PRELOD: https://www.giftoflife.on.ca/resources/pdf/PRELOD_Online_Brochure_April_2022_FINAL.pdf 
Hope Air: https://hopeair.ca/ 

In September, 2022, we launched Great Actions Leave A Mark, a national, multi-year public awareness campaign about living organ donation and transplantation.  It has images and videos of living kidney and liver donors and recipients across Canada.

In the coming weeks, you'll hear stories from Great Actions models about their journey with living organ donation.

In this episode, host Candice is joined by Jaime Watt, whose partner donated a kidney to him. 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

To submit your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

To view the Great Actions Leave a Mark campaign, visit www.greatactions.ca 

During Living Donation Week 2021, we partnered with the podcast, Remember This, with host Amanda Cupido to highlight first person living organ donation stories submitted through an online app. In this episode, Len shares his story as a double anonymous, non-directed living donor, which means he donated a portion of his liver to a stranger, then he donated a kidney to a stranger!

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

To submit your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

For more information about Living Liver Donation visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

During Living Donation Week 2021, we partnered with the podcast, Remember This, with host Amanda Cupido to highlight first person living organ donation stories submitted through an online app. In this episode, Glenna shares her journey as a non-directed, living anonymous donor, meaning she donated 62% of her liver to a stranger! Enjoy!

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

To submit your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

For more information about Living Liver Donation visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

To submit your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

For more information about Living Liver Donation visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

To submit your story, please reach out to us at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

For more information about Living Liver Donation visit https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

To read more about Dr. Gonzalo Sapisochin’s research, visit: https://www.uhn.ca/corporate/News/PressReleases/Pages/Living_donation_opens_new_doors_for_colorectal_cancer_patients.aspx#:~:text=%E2%80%8BToronto%20(March%2030%2C%202022,that%20cannot%20be%20surgically%20removed.

To read more about Living Liver Donation, visit: Toronto Living Donor Liver Transplant Brochure.pdf - Google Drive

To read more about the Living Liver Transplant Program at UHN, visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

To read about Natalie’s art installation, visit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F01b9_0t7mwa1ERgCPmWGawKhqNdRKZ5/view?usp=sharing

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

To read more about Team Delfina’s transplant journey visit: https://globalnews.ca/tag/delfina-budziak/

To read more about the Living Liver Transplants at Sick Kids visit: https://www.sickkids.ca/en/care-services/centres/transplant-regenerative-medicine-centre/liver-transplant-program/

To read more about the Living Liver Transplant Program at UHN visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_liver_donor.aspx

To read about Dr. Vicky Ng’s research, visit: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=vicky+ng

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

For more information about living donation, visit www.livingorgandonation.ca.

To view Ioanna's journey on CBC, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIAk9BxJJo8 

To view the Great Actions Leave a Mark Campaign visit www.greatactions.ca 

To learn more about Dr. Singh's work, visit https://bbdc.org/members-research/singh-sunita/ 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

For caregivers looking for information and support, please visit: https://bit.ly/cflodcaregivers

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

For more information about the Canadian Society of Transplantation, visit https://www.cst-transplant.ca/ 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

For more information about the Heart Links program, visit: https://www.facebook.com/heartlinksgroup/

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

For more information about living liver donation, visit: https://bit.ly/uhnliver

For more information about the ACB Organ Health YouTube Channel visit: https://bit.ly/acborganhealth 

For more information about how to register your consent to be a donor, visit https://beadonor.ca/

To watch the Men Who Care Episode, visit https://bit.ly/menwhocare

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

Later they are joined by Dr. Atul Humar, Director of the Ajmera Transplant Centre as they discuss innovations in transplant, policy changes, what changes are coming to transplant and how to end the waitlist.

For more information about the Centre for Living Organ Donation visit www.livingorgandonation.ca

For more information about the Great Actions Leave a Mark campaign visit www.greatactions.ca

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

And what was that all about the camo pants? Mary wears camo pants when she travels to bring her good luck as she had a string of unlucky travel delays and since wearing the camo pants, it has resolved some of her troubles.

For more information about CanSOLVE CKD Network, please visit https://cansolveckd.ca or
CDTRP: Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program visit https://cdtrp.ca
ACB Organ Health Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFFz8hoKUxTYltN1aX8nghA 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

We love Andrea.

Do you have someone from the UHN Team who you love? Let us know by emailing us or posting it on social with #HearttheTeam

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

For definitions of medical terminology used in this episode, please visit https://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Health_Information/Pages/medical_dictionary.aspx

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

Host Candice Coghlan is joined by guest host, Tamara Hartley- Harris who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at a young age. Tamara’s journey is one that is filled with hardship, strength and love. She discusses living with diabetes, having a life-threatening health episode that sent her into a coma which turned her and her family’s life upside down, how she managed dialysis and eventually the call for a kidney pancreas transplant. Candice and Tamara share touching moments as Tamara speaks about how her husband and family got her through the hardest days of her life. They are joined by Dr. Sharon Bray, writer and workshop developer as they discuss how writing is therapeutic, how to get your pen to paper and what writing about your transplant journey is all about. Hear beautiful excerpts of writings about the transplant journey from transplant recipients and donors who participated in the Writing Your Transplant Story webinar.

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

The views and opinions expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network. 

Read more about Mary’s transplant patient advocacy here.

In this episode: 

Autoethnography is an approach to research and writing that seeks to describe and systematically analyze personal experience in order to understand cultural experience. This approach challenges canonical ways of doing research and representing others and treats research as a political, socially-just and socially-conscious act. A researcher uses tenets of autobiography and ethnography to do and write autoethnography. Thus, as a method, autoethnography is both process and product. (Read more) 

Caregiver supports  

·       Ontario Caregivers Organization  

·       HeartLinks Transplant Support Group (Toronto General Hospital) 

The Heart Pump Blues - Written and Performed by Jamie Wilkinson 

In this episode:

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a serious but rare heart defect present at birth (congenital), in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed (transposed). Read more. 

The Mustard and Senning repair are two similar operations for TGA. Each is named for the surgeon who first performed the operation. In both, the surgeon creates a two-way baffle in the top part of the heart. This baffle serves as a bridge between the two sides of the heart. In a Senning procedure, the surgeon uses the patient’s own tissue to create the baffle. In the Mustard procedure, a synthetic material is used. Both are called “atrial switch procedures” because there is a baffle through the heart’s top part, or atria, which allows the blood to reach the ventricles. Read more.

VAD: A ventricular assist device (VAD) — also known as a mechanical circulatory support device — is an implantable mechanical pump that helps pump blood from the lower chambers of your heart (the ventricles) to the rest of your body. A VAD is used in people who have weakened hearts or heart failure. Read more. 

Jamie, Heather and Lennon 

In this episode: 

CVICU: Cardiovascular intensive care unit 

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that usually starts in your heart's main pumping chamber (left ventricle). The ventricle stretches and thins (dilates) and can't pump blood as well as a healthy heart can. Read more. 

Decompensated heart failure is defined as a clinical syndrome in which a structural or functional change in the heart leads to its inability to eject and/or accommodate blood within physiological pressure levels, thus causing a functional limitation and requiring immediate therapeutic intervention. Read more. 

LVAD: A ventricular assist device (VAD) — also known as a mechanical circulatory support device — is an implantable mechanical pump that helps pump blood from the lower chambers of your heart (the ventricles) to the rest of your body. A VAD is used in people who have weakened hearts or heart failure. Although a VAD can be placed in the left, right or both ventricles of your heart, it is most frequently used in the left ventricle. When placed in the left ventricle it is called a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Read more. 

Become a registered organ donor at [beadonor.ca]BeADonor.ca

Learn more about the PKD Foundation of Canada 

Established in 1993, the PKD Foundation of Canada has now positioned itself as a nation leader of clinical research and fellowship funding in the field of PKD. From the first research grant awarded in 1999, the PKD Foundation of Canada has set up chapters and support groups across the country, built an expansive and passionate volunteer network, and connected with PKD groups around the world to support our most notable fundraising event – the Walk to END PKD. Read more.  

In this episode: 

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited disorder in which clusters of cysts develop primarily within your kidneys, causing your kidneys to enlarge and lose function over time. Cysts are noncancerous round sacs containing fluid. The cysts vary in size, and they can grow very large. Having many cysts or large cysts can damage your kidneys. Read more. 

This episode was recorded in March 2021

In this episode:

Register to be an organ donor: https://www.beadonor.ca/campaign/teamUHN

The Logan Boulet Effect & Green Shirt Day 

Courtney and Brittany are joined by kidney transplant recipient and philanthropist, Salah Bachir, his husband, Jacob Yerex, and UHN’s Physician in Chief, Dr. Ed Cole. They discuss Salah's seven years on dialysis prior to transplant, the inspiration for the Bachir Yerex Family Dialysis Centre, and what Dr. Cole sees for the future of kidney transplantation and dialysis. Also in this episode, a brainstorming session about the concept of an anonymous donor line, Courtney and Brittany love astrology, and Salah reveals the secret to a nightshift nurse’s heart (spoiler alert, it involves a lot of fried chicken).  

Courtney and Brittany sit down with living liver donor, Melissa Sidhu to talk research ethics, biliary atresia, and the privilege of good health. With honesty and humour, Melissa talks about her brother’s reluctance to accept her as a donor, her fear of post-donation depression, and the challenges of having a mother who knows too much about surgery. Warning: This episode contains excessive laughter.  

Courtney and Brittany sit down with the hilarious Trevor Hanagan to discuss his journey to becoming a non-directed living kidney donor and his 16-year career in UHN security. With humour and vulnerability, Trevor discusses working security in hemodialysis, convincing his mother and partner that donating was a good idea, and the ‘high’ of the non-directed donor process. Also in this episode: the pros and cons of growing up in a family of nurses, bonding during the nightshift, kidney paired donation, and something every man should know when recovering from a kidney transplant.