Twenty-four-year-old Quesnel resident, Landen Smith knows first hand the lifesaving gift of an organ transplant.
He’s recovering in Vancouver from the double lung transplant he received in July.
Family and friends are organizing a Halloween Party Benefit Dance, Oct. 29, at the Seniors’ Centre to help with Landen’s expenses as he recovers.
Landen was one of 147 transplants performed this year as of Sept. 30 and the only one to receive a double lung transplant.
Five more recipients are waiting for a double lung donor.
Carol Storseth, clinical coordinator for the Lung Transplant Program at Vancouver General Hospital said they normally do about 15 lung transplants a year.
“We don’t get lungs from every donor due to trauma to the lungs or damage from a variety of illnesses and procedures,” she said.
She added, because the lungs are exposed to the air, they are more susceptible to infections and such.
Although waiting times for transplants differs depending on the organ, according to the BC Transplant Web site, in 2010 the average wait time for a double lung transplant was eight months, while a patient, waiting for a kidney transplant from a deceased donor could wait up to 63 months, that’s more than five years.
Right now there are almost 400 British Columbians waiting for transplants.
Many of those waiting for a solid organ transplant die while waiting for a suitable transplant.
“For all organ groups, probably about 30 per cent will die waiting for a transplant,” Storeth said.
However, once someone decides to be an organ donor, the process is simple to add your information to the organ donor registry.
It’s just a click of the mouse on the BC Transplant Web site and you can join the more than 800,000 people already registered.
Storseth said that of the 70 per cent of people in B.C. who agree they’d like to donate their organs, only about 20 per cent actually sign a donor registry card.
“For those who do sign registry cards, they need to let their families know their wishes,” she added.
“Then, should the time come, it will hopefully help families to make that decision knowing what the donor’s wishes are.”
Landen suffered from lung disease for more than two years until he finally reached the stage where his lungs were so deteriorated he was put on the transplant list.
“We knew this meant he was running out of time,” Landen’s sister Kim said.
“Waiting for the pager to go off, letting you know there’s a donor, is a frightening mix of frustrations and hope. It’s an emotional roller coaster.”
Kim said the family thought it was the end a few times.
Twice Landen was paged and each time the lungs proved not viable.
Finally the call came. The donor lungs were in the best possible condition you could ask for Kim said.
Three months after his transplant Landen is doing great. He can finally play tag with his nephews and nieces, something he could only dream of before.
“His increased function is remarkable,” Kim said.
“Without that donation, Landen wouldn’t be here today. For everyone waiting for that precious gift of life, I say, ‘hang in there, stay positive.’
“Now Landen is looking to map his future because he’s confident he now has one.”
Landen’s fundraiser is a celebration of his survival and a fundraiser for his recovery.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at Cricket 14 and Circle ‘S’ Western Wear.
There’s door prizes and costume prizes, a live auction and dancing.
For those unable to attend but would like to make a donation, call Kim, 250-747-5206.