Afsana was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) at the age of 16. PSC is a liver disease where the bile ducts decrease in size due to inflammation and scarring. . The disease majorly impacted Afsana's life and 6 years after she was diagnosed, she was told that she would need a new liver to save her life. She turned to her family first, but no one was compatible... and so, desperate to save her life, she turned to social media to find a donor. . Her journey reached an incredibly large network. Through Afsana's diligent posts and journalling of her situation and needs, Afsana found her living donor match on social media. .
Afsana's scar is now a part of who she is. It is a part she loves. It is a reminder of everything she has been through. . It also shows how incredibly strong she is... and reminds her of the Mercedes Benz logo!

Meet Andy Smith. Andy was inspired to explore living donation when he saw a high school donate a kidney to a friend. Only about 10 people donate a kidney anonymously in BC each year. Andy was one of these living kidney donors in 2021. He donated a stranger in Montreal through the national paired kidney donation program run by Canadian Blood Services.

Ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

Meet Ashley Hiebert. She stepped forward to donate a kidney to young mom on dialysis. They were not a match so Ashley donated through the national Paired Kidney Exchange program so her recipient could receive a kidney. Ashley was travelling within a month of surgery. Ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

Meet Brandy. Brandy donated a piece of her liver to her father who was dealing with liver failure and other complications. Although the liver transplant was successful, Brandy's father never left the hospital. His other health issues were too much for him and he passed away 113 days later.  Despite the sad outcome, for Brandy, the overall experience of being a living organ donor is one that she will always cherish and fully support. Every extra minute with a loved one, is a minute that is cherished and because of Brandy's gift of life, she forever has a mark of love. Ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

MEET CANDICE, mom, partner, healthcare professional and living kidney recipient."My mom gave me life twice, and in turn, gave me the ability to become a mother, and create life
"At the age of 24 Candice had a crash start onto hemodialysis with no prior knowledge of kidney disease, which halted her dreams of getting her degree and travelling the world. Months later, Candice switched the peritoneal dialysis while her mother was being assessed to be her kidney donor. They got the call that they were a match and on 09/09/09 at 9am, Kim successfully donated her kidney to Candice, giving her life twice. In 2021, Candice and her husband welcomed a healthy baby girl into their lives.  What has her mother's gift of organ donation done for Candice? It's given her life.
Ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

Meet Craig Settee, a living kidney donor from on Fisher River Cree Nation, about 200 north of Winnipeg. As a young adult, Kevin was undergoing peritoneal dialysis, and his brother Craig saw the impact it had on his life. Being a big brother, and a helper, Craig wanted to do something about it so he stepped forward to get tested. They were a match and ten years ago, Craig donated his kidney to Kevin, now a filmmaker and photographer using his talents and story to raise awareness about living organ donation. “The biggest gift of being a kidney donor is that I was able to help my brother to live with a new kidney," says Craig. "And I think that’s part of being a helper, is being there for your friends, your family, and I think that’s the biggest gift that I could have given… is a little bit of life.”

Meet cousins Cristina & Christine. Cristina, an on air reporter for CityNews Toronto, discovered she was in stage 4 kidney failure and had to start dialysis. This changed her life completely. She was told a living donor would save her life. 9 years prior, her cousin Christine had been matched as a kidney donor for her father in law, but at the end of the testing a different family member was chosen. Christine felt so disappointed but says her kidney was meant to be saved for Cristina because in 2019, Christine became a kidney donor for her cousin Cristina. Both Cristina and Christine are thriving.

Ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

Meet Tracey Dunsire, mom to double transplant recipient Geoff, and Debi Pearce, his living kidney donor. When Geoff was 13 he was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis. He lived with the disease until the age of 25 when he was admitted to hospital with end stage liver failure. He slipped into a coma and was on life support but recovered thanks to a liver transplant from a deceased donor. Despite numerous health challenges including an infection that led to an acquired brain injury, and loss of kidney function and subsequent dialysis, Geoff and his family persevered. When told his medical condition was too complex for a kidney transplant from a deceased donor, the family decided to launch a public appeal to find a living donor. Debi Pearce saw the family's story and thought "Someone has to help them" and then realized she could be the one. She called the transplant centre and started the assessment process but was not sure how she was going to tell her 87 year old mother.  She needn't have worried, her mom gave her blessing and told Debi she would do the same thing. Since the surgery, Geoff has blossomed. His energy and sense of humour have returned. He is walking, driving, going to the gym twice a week, looking to get back into the workforce and continuing to inspire everyone around him. Says Debi: "I've gotten to know this young man..[the donation] was a gift to me as well.

"Ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

Meet Dr. Bob Richardson, a kidney specialist who became an anonymous kidney donor after he retired.
Dr. Richardson probably evaluated over one thousand living kidney donors in his 37 year career in nephrology. The former medical head of the living kidney donor program at Toronto General Hospital saw patients and donors go through the heartbreaking and courageous journey of finding a donor or becoming a donor, and it sparked a fire in him. After retiring, Dr Richardson decided to step forward as an anonymous kidney donor himself. He went through the exact same assessment process as every other donor. He passed all the tests with flying colours. In 2016, at the age of 68, Dr. Richardson was matched to a recipient in the paired kidney exchange program and initiated a chain that made it possible for even more people to receive a life altering kidney transplant. Dr. Richardson is an incredible example of physicians who care. He put his trust in the system he works in, and placed himself in the position of his patients to save a life. Today, he feels proud of his decision and is enjoying his retirement golfing, bird watching, playing tennis and spending time with friends and family. Please like, share, comment and visit greatactions.ca to learn how you can become a part of this incredible movement.

MEET JUSTIN POY, busy creative director of award-winning agency and multiple kidney transplant recipient, & Dr. VIVIENNE POY, retired member of the Senate of Canada, and kidney donor to Justin 14 years ago. Justin developed kidney failure when he was a child and has lived on and off dialysis for many years, which has been hard on his health and his family.
Kidney transplants are the preferred treatment for kidney failure because quality of life and life expectancy are higher than dialysis. Although transplanted kidneys can last many years, some recipients require more than one kidney transplant over their lifetime. Retransplantation, particularly in younger patients, is associated with better overall survival than dialysis.
Ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

Meet George, living kidney transplant recipient. George had pancreatic cancer so a portion of his pancreas and spleen was removed. It was then that lumps were found on his kidney. He had fluid accumulating around his heart and couldn't breathe or sleep. George was on dialysis for over three and a half years, waiting on the deceased donor transplant list. He received an anonymous living kidney donation from someone who had a personal connection to kidney disease, but was unable to donate to their loved one as they passed away. If George ever met his donor, he would hug them and ask them to talk to others about living donation.
He is incredibly grateful and happy for the gift of life as he and his two daughters and eleven grandchildren are able to enjoy life without needles and dialysis.  As George says, "it's been good."

Meet Isabelle. Isabelle is a mother and a nurse. She was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy and had to travel frequently from Thompson to Winnipeg more than an 8 hour drive away for monthly appointments. When Isabelle's living donor was unable to donate, Isabelle was devastated. But her sister Tamara stepped forward and in about a month they finished the workup and found out she was a great candidate to donate her kidney.  Isabelle believes this experience has helped her in her nursing career as she is able to talk to people and give them hope.
Organ donors save lives, and give people a second chance at life.

MEET JENNEN JOHNSON, kidney warrior and organ donation advocate. Diagnosed with lupus in her early twenties, Jennen's transplant journey began in 2017 when she was given 4 years to live. With the wait for an organ being 6-8 years long at that time, she knew that she had to do something. One day her mom suggested she placed an ad in one of Toronto’s major newspapers asking anyone who was willing to get tested and possibly be her kidney donor. After having her plea published in NOW Magazine, the story trending on social media and her cousin sharing it, a stranger stepped forward. On March 27th 2018 Jennen was blessed to receive a second chance at life through the amazing generosity of Christi Nolan. Since her surgery, Jennen has become a strong advocate for organ donation and access and equity in transplant. She joined the Volunteer Council at the Centre for Living Organ Donation and become the host of The Green Table Talk on The ACB Organ Health YouTube Channel. On any given day you can find her dancing around the house with her amazing daughter Tatianna! Jennen has been blessed with the gift of an organ donation and she says the least she can do is give back in any way she can!
Ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

MEET JULIA KING, emergency room nurse and two-time living organ donor. Julia has it in her to give - she joined the Stem Cell Registry at 17 and started donating blood at 18. She travelled to Toronto to donate the left lobe of her liver to a child and four months later applied to donate a kidney through the national paired kidney exchange - all before the age of 25. Julia talks about her recovery, myths about living donation and different ways people can help. Ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

Meet Kevin Settee, a filmmaker and photographer from Fisher River Cree Nation, 200 KM north of Winnipeg, who is using his talents to raise awareness about living organ donation as part of the Great Actions Leave a Mark Campaign. Here, Kevin steps in front of the camera to share his story as a living donor kidney recipient. On October 18, Kevin celebrated his 10th kidney-versary thanks to his brother and living donor, Craig.

Meet Len Hodder, business owner, volunteer, double living donor. Len was inspired to exploring living donation after seeing a Christmas movie. He donated a portion of his liver to a child and subsequently donated a kidney to another stranger in need. Ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

Marissa gives us a peek into what life is like being on dialysis. She walks us through her story, how her mother courageously stepped forward as her living kidney donor, and gave her a second chance at a more fulfilling life.  This video was created in partnership with BC Transplant and Canadian Blood Services

MEET MEGAN OWEN-EVANS, business leader and non-directed organ donor. Megan talks about what prompted her to donate through the national paired kidney exchange program and enable multiple people on the transplant waitlist to find a match, what effect it had on her life, and how employers can reduce barriers by joining the CST/AST Living Donor Circle of Excellence Ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

MEET NAZIM KHAN, his friends call him Naz. Nazim was diagnosed with kidney disease at the age of 26, and by the age of 40 he was in renal failure. He spent 8 years on dialysis, and then received a kidney transplant. Eight years later he was back on dialysis. Those years were difficult on his body. Nazim's energy was low, and he felt like he was barely alive. In October 2021 he got a call that he would receive his second kidney transplant from a living donor. Nazim says that donor gave him his life back "and then some". He married the love of his life and is making new memories with his children and grandchildren. Nazim says the new lease on life is all thanks to his donor who had the courage to step forward and help a stranger. This selfless individual saved Nazim's life and gave him back to his family now that he is well enough to be there for them. Ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

Meet Shak and Gurjit, life partners, parents and living kidney donation advocates.
When Shak met Gurjit he didn't know much about transplant or kidney disease. But as Shak saw his then girlfriend's health deteriorate, he got past the fear and became a living donor to Gurjit via the national Kidney Paired Donation (KPD) program. The KPD program is an interprovincial organ sharing program operated by Canadian Blood Services in collaboration with Canada’s living kidney donation and kidney transplant programs. The KPD program gives individuals an opportunity to donate to a stranger so their loved one can find a kidney match and more transplant candidates across Canada can receive a lifesaving transplant. Since the transplant, Shak and Gurjit have married, had children and become active in the transplant community, raising awareness of the power of living donation to help people with kidney failure get their life back.Their story shows that ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

MEET THE MUNOZ FAMILY: liver transplant recipient JAIME, living donor SONIA, & mom, wife and caregiver, SONIA Sr.Five years ago Jaime was diagnosed with NASH, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and given 4 months to live. Jaime is a father of four, and all four kids offered to donate their liver to him, but it was his youngest and only daughter, Sonia who was the best match. In December of 2017 Sonia successfully donated a portion of her liver to her dad, and saved his life. Wife & mom Sonia talks about living on autopilot, lack of sleep and the stress of keep everything going - and how everything changed after the surgery. Jaime in now enjoying his retirement with his family and 7 grandchildren. Since the transplant has become an avid walker and runner. Sonia says she "thinks that living donors are everyday people who do an extraordinary thing."  Indeed, ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

MEET STEPHANIE DYRIW, living liver donor to her son JP, co-founder of the YE Agency and creative force behind the Great Actions Leave a Mark Campaign.
In November 2021, JP suddenly became ill. He was admitted to Sick Kids and diagnosed with liver failure. His mom Stephanie quickly stepped forward to become his donor. The Living Liver Donor and Transplant teams @SickKidsInteractive and @ajmeratransplantcentre quickly mobilized to complete the living donor assessment and ensure the surgeries happened quickly and safely.  

Stephanie and JP recovered quickly but the experience profoundly affected them. In the months that followed, the Yonge + Eist team came together and brainstormed ideas for a public awareness campaign to raise awareness of the power of living organ donation. They approached the Centre for Living Organ Donation and with support from the Ajmera Transplant Centre, the Great Actions Campaign quickly grew to include living donors, recipients and partners from across Canada.

Ordinary people are capable of doing extraordinary things. Whether it's stepping forward as a living donor, registering as a deceased donor, donating blood or spreading awareness...YOU are capable of taking a brave action. You can not only change a life...you can save a life.

Meet Tamara Beardy, Living kidney donor to her sister Isabelle. Tamara is compassionate, driven and carries a lot of strength. She remembers being in hospital with her sister when doctors told them Isabelle would need a transplant in the future. The onset of Isabelle's kidney issues came 10 years earlier than expected. Tamara was a new mother at the time, so had to wait to see if she could be a donor. She remembers her sister was scheduled for a transplant but when it did not happen she felt that she had lost her sister, like a death had a occurred. Tamara knew it was supposed to be her who would donate a kidney. They went through the process and many tests later were deemed a good match. They cried together, watched fireworks and said their goodbyes. After one last "are you ready", the surgical team and Tamara prayed together, and they proceeded. In recovery Tamara shed tears of joy, as the transplant was a success. After transplant she knew her sister was going to be well, and free of limitations.