Blake Ferguson has a heartfelt message. With more than 1,500 people in Ontario waiting for an organ donor, the heart transplant recipient is helping to get the message out about the importance of organ donation.
It’s National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week, so Ferguson is manning a booth at the London Health Sciences Centre’s Victoria campus.
Considering 80 per cent of Ontarians recognize the importance of organ donation, but only 25 per cent follow through on making their wishes known, it’s an important message.
"I'm trying to ensure that other people will have the opportunity I did,” Ferguson says.
The workplace campaign at the hospital is aimed at getting hospital employees and their families to register their consent to be an organ and tissue donor.
Doctor Patrick Luk says great strides have been made in improving the lives of transplant recipients. Still, there is a great need for donors.
"We're celebrating the numbers we're doing now, but there are many people who need transplants. Every two or three days there's going to be one patient that will die on the organ transplant waiting list,” Luk says.
Just one organ donor can save up to eight lives.
Ferguson’s life was transformed when he received his new heart.
"I was pretty sick. I couldn't even climb the stairs in my house,” Ferguson recalls.
But now, he is healthy and able to cross-country ski.
I'm leading a normal life again; it's just great."
He’s thankful to the donor family that gave him his heart.
"I told them how my life has changed. Every day I think about their family and the gracious donation of life they gave to me.
