Vanessa

Meet Vanessa, a living kidney donor living in Winnipeg. Vanessa's father, Kenneth, had to uproot his life in O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation in Manitoba’s far north and move to the city to receive the dialysis care he needed to stay alive. Kenneth spent a year in a hotel room in Winnipeg and missed his home and family and being on the land. Vanessa became his caregiver and strong advocate and through that process, decided she wanted to donate a kidney to him. Kenneth was worried about the risks, but Vanessa pushed forward. Vanessa had to fight through the system to get her father the transplant that he needed. Although COVID delayed their surgery, Vanessa successfully donated her kidney to her father, and he was able to return home and have time with his family before he passed away nine months later. Kenneth relished being back home and free of the dialysis machine. "The goal was reached,” says Vanessa, “And my dad gave me an important assignment.

“He told me to share our story to help others.”