Ashley

My position is a rather unique one. I am both a donor family member and a recipient family member. On March 23rd 2025 my sister lost her life. On March 26th 2025 my husband got his back.

For two years my husband was in kidney failure and on dialysis. Overnight our whole lives changed. He became disabled and had to quit his job. Our days were filled with appointments, travelling to hospitals across the region for specialists and port placements and evaluations. We were constantly on time tables, watching clocks and calendars and holding our breath. Our home became a medical supply unit and a treatment facility. Everything we owned was covered in bleach and sanitizer. We secluded ourselves from our family and friends for fear of germs and sickness, anything that would make him worse or set him back. We missed out on so much.

The sickness, the fear, the pain was immense. But there was hope too. When he finally got on the transplant list it was the first time we had felt joy since it all began. Our whole family started checking on their eligibility for donation. One by one, no match. My sister was the last one who was going to try. She never got the chance while she was alive.

When the results came back that she was a perfect match it was as amazing as it was heartbreaking. I was losing my baby sister, my best friend, but my husband’s life would be saved. This was her last gift to us. The gift of life.

My sister’s gift went to more than just us, though. I’m happy to say that many lives have been saved and changed because she made the choice to be an organ donor. I was and continue to be so proud and grateful that her life meant so much to so many. Organ donation is so selfless and so important and so worth it.