A Teen’s Tragedy Inspires Hope and a Regional Support Program
Pictured above: Michelle MacKinnon, St. Joe's Transplant Ambassador Program
David MacKinnon had a passion and a gift for art, architecture and airplanes. He dreamed of one day becoming a pilot. But from birth David’s health was put to the test, challenges that continued into his teen years that he worked hard at to overcome. It was a rare and massive gastrointestinal bleed that eventually led to a diagnosis of kidney disease for 16 year old David. He would need a kidney transplant.
Finding a match for a living donor transplant wasn’t an obstacle. David’s mother Michelle met the criteria.
David began 10 months of Peritoneal Dialysis and in the 11th month was switched to Hemodialysis while he waited for his transplant date. Hemodialysis normally works well for many with chronic kidney disease, but unfortunately David’s body did not take it well, and as a result he suffered from many strokes that mimicked dialysis disequilibrium syndrome.
Eventually a transplant date was set for June 8, 2011. Michelle was fully prepared to donate her kidney to her son, but tragically David died that same day before the transplant could take place. Michelle vowed to donate that kidney anyway and she was given the opportunity to save a two year old boy in 2015 with that very kidney. Michelle says she feels tremendous gratitude to have been able to do this for another family on behalf of David.
Immediately, the MacKinnon family transformed these unfortunate circumstances into motivation, helping others who are considering a kidney transplant or donating a kidney by providing resources and education so people feel comfortable and supported in the process. She has also found hope in a program led by the Ontario Renal Network and Canadian Kidney Disease Network; the Transplant Ambassador Program.
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton’s transplant team has partnered with the Canadian Kidney Disease Network/Ontario Renal Network to implement a new face-to-face support program organized by kidney recipients and donors called the Transplant Ambassador Program. Michelle MacKinnon is the lead at St. Joe’s and is currently recruiting individuals with lived experience to be a Transplant Ambassador. The goal of the program is to connect individuals who are considering a kidney transplant with the Transplant Ambassadors, and to support the potential recipient/donor every step of the way to show hope for a positive and healthy future.
St. Joe’s undertakes more than 100 kidney transplants each year to transform lives for those suffering from kidney failure. Most of the patients who have a living donation transplant are fully functioning without dialysis for the rest of their lives.
If you are a successful kidney recipient or donor interested in becoming a Transplant Ambassador at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, please contact Michelle MacKinnon by email at michelle.mackinnon@transplantambassadors.ca.
For more information on kidney transplants and donation, click here to visit the St. Joe’s website.