I met with Alyshia Higgins a few weeks ago at her relative’s home north of the city. It’s a serene spot, with horses grazing the many acres of property. This summer, she’ll be getting married on the grounds, but the day will be a mix of emotions. It’s only been a few months since losing her father, Malcolm, after a car accident left him with a severe brain injury. During that difficult time, she and her siblings had to say goodbye to their father, but not before fulfilling his final wish.
“We were having lunch about a year and half ago, and I was fooling around with his wallet and pulled out a blank organ donation card. And I said, what is this doing here?” Alyshia recalls as we sat in the den talking. “And he said, haven’t you signed yours? He then went on about this being one of the most important decisions you could ever make.”
As a police officer, Malcolm’s line of work put him face to face with the frailties of life everyday. And he was very vocal about his own wishes should tragedy ever strike close to home: he wanted to donate his organs and tissues if at all possible. “It’s not something you ever anticipate, but I feel we were very fortunate because he had that discussion with us,” says Alyshia. “I know a lot of people don’t.”
She’s right. Despite overwhelming support for the idea of organ and tissue donation, only about 17% of Ontarians have registered their consent. That means every 3 days, someone in this province dies waiting.
Just 1 donor can potentially save the lives of 8 people through solid organ donation, and enhance the lives of up to 75 others through tissue donation, including eyes, skin and heart valves. Sunnybrook is one of 21 Ontario hospitals with a Trillium Gift of Life Network Coordinator on staff, who helps inform families about donation. Craig Johnston acknowledges that donation isn’t right for everyone. What’s important is having the conversation, so families aren’t burdened with guessing what their loved one would have wanted during a time of tragedy.
Alyshia knows her dad was able to save several lives, and shares the thank you cards she received from the recipients openly. “I am so grateful to you,” she reads, “the donor family, for donating this precious gift of life to me. Now I will be able to continue my life with good health with my wife, family and friends.” She stops reading and smiles. “We knew we were making the right decision. For us, it wasn’t a difficult decision to make. It was just a decision made during a difficult time.”
For more information on organ and tissue donation, visit the Trillium Gift of Life Network website.
