I’m ready to apply! Is there any specific information about Caius that needs to be included in the application?

Great question! You will need his full name, age, and birth date:

Caius David

11 years old

15 October 2012

I understand the Blood Type O is required; does it matter if the donor is O+ or O-?

Not at all! As long as you are Blood Type O, please apply!

What if I would like to apply, but do not know my blood type?

First, ask your doctor if they have it on file. If not, ask for a requisition form and take it to a location like LifeLabs. They will tell you within 24 hours! Good to go!

Does it matter what race/ethnicity I am, if I want to apply as a donor?

Actually, no. This only applies for stem-cells. An organ donor can be from any background.

What is the ideal age range for a donor?

Although the age range for Children is between 16 to 55, the younger the donor the better.

If you are outside this age range and you would still like to help, please consider sharing our story on social media.

Do they take the whole liver?

Not at all! Unlike any other organ, the liver has incredible regenerative capabilities. By the end of the 3rd week of recovery, the liver will have almost completely grown back. By the end of the full 6 weeks, the liver will be back to normal size.

Is there any financial assistance for donors?

Absolutely! There is a reimbursement program called Program for Reimbursing Expenses of Living Organ Donors (PRELOD)  funded by the Trillium Gift of Life Network. PRELOD may pay for potential expenses that happen during the evaluation process. During your preliminary appointment, a transplant assessment coordinator will talk to you about the PRELOD reimbursement program and how to apply for it.

Is there a timeline?

Yes. Caius is already in the stages of liver failure. He has months to find a match. The evaluation process takes about 6 weeks, however. Add to this that only 20-30% of donor applicants are accepted, we are in a race against time. The greater the number of applicants, the better our chances of finding a fit. We only need a piece of one. Apply here.

Why are you looking for a living donor outside the family?

This is the hardest question to answer. As stated above, only 20-30% of donor applicants are accepted, and that also goes for family members. Unfortunately, and against our original ambition, we received devastating results. We felt so alone and without hope. Beyond our worst nightmare…Until we open this campaign and saw the love and support from so many come through.

As it turns out, this incredible story was meant to bring more people together, to let humanity shine through at a time where there isn’t as much light in the world as there could be, and show our son that LOVE is the strongest force in the universe. It has no name, no colour, not limit. What a lesson for anyone to learn, especially a child like Caius. Who knows what untold good will come of him experiencing this level of generosity and grace? I don’t know; but I can’t wait to find out. Can you?

Why don’t you just wait for a deceased donor?

This is a question we asked, as well. He is on that list, however, the truth of the matter is that many of the deceased livers are from an older population who typically had something very seriously wrong and it is never in the best shape. The program is very particular about the quality of liver a child gets for the best chance that it takes. It is not, unfortunately, so with an older, compromised liver. And if it does take, the chances of repeating the transplant process is very. Add to this fact that if this were the case, it would be when Caius was older and the truth of the matter is the wait list for adults is 10x longer than for children. We would like to avoid that possibility as much as possible.

The next sad truth is that over 25% of those on the wait list never get a donor. Hence, the living donor is our best bet, and it is Caius’ best bet to living a long and healthy life.

Isn’t there a liver bank from anonymous live donors?

The head of the surgical team we spoke to wishes this were the case. He said that most who apply for one particular case may not be fit for that one, but could for someone else. If all the people that came forward for a particular case would be willing to do it for others that there may be a match for, there would not be a waitlist in Canada nor the United States.

Do you know how many people have applied? Do you have enough yet?

For better or for worse, the totals of those who have applied is strictly confidential. We have no idea if 2 or 200 have applied. That is why we are doing our best to communicate a sense of urgency as far and wide as possible. We know it is a numbers game and the greater the numbers, the greater the possibility of getting the best match quickly. So if you’re thinking about, please apply. You can’t score if you don’t shoot! You could be the one!

Do donors have to be ‘fully vaccinated’?

No, absolutely not.

What does recovery look like? How long will I need to be off work?

There are two questions here, so we will break it down, first, recovery, then we will share ideas of how to navigate your work.

The operation lasts 6-8 hours. Most donors are discharged about 5 to 7 days post operation. Recovery is usually 6-8 weeks and most can return to work around that time (more on that below). The liver regrows and returns to normal function within the first 3 weeks and is finished regrowth by the end of week 6. Donors can go for daily walks, do exercise, and resume normal sexual activity over time as they heal and feel comfortable to do so. Most return to work within the 6-8 week range, if it does not require heaving lifting or strenuous exertion. And if the donor is in the London area, I know a decent manual osteopath who would be happy to help with recovery.

Now for the second part: work. There are a few parts to this, so hold tight.

Many companies and government positions are very happy to accommodate donors with sick leave and short term disability benefits. Please contact your HR departments and find out more. They actually have protocols for such an opportunity and are happy to know the type of character their employees have in such a situation.

Next, the Ontario government pays for the costs of donor investigations, surgery, hospital stay, and post discharge care, just like for any other form of healthcare. Donors who pay into employment insurance (EI) may be eligible for employment insurance sick benefits, to help with the loss of income while recovering. Some travel, dining, and accommodation costs may also be paid through the living donor reimbursement program (PRELOD).

What happens if I appleid and I am not a suitable donor for your son?

It depends on you. First, it should be acknowledged that you have done an amazing thing in voluntarily offering the gift of life through you. You are a hero in every way. And even if you were not a match for Caius in this instance, you could have been, and that would have made all the difference. So from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

From here, I would imagine there are a range of emotions and searching out of feelings that will need to take place. If this was the first time you’ve realized you have this gift inside you, it would be like waking up one morning and discovering you had super powers. Now what? There is support out there for you. There is a Facebook Group (Recipients and Living Donors in Canada Facebook Group) here filled with amazing people who can help you navigate this new terrain you have found yourself in and I recommend you reach out if you need support and/or want to be around other like-minded and like-hearted individuals. Yes, there are more of them out there, and you can find them here.

At this point, the UHN may ask if you would like to be non-direct donor for someone else. Of course, you are under no obligation to move forward. Having the Organ Transplant Recipients and Living Donors in Canada Facebook Group can help in this decision. Whatever you decide, we hope you have peace in your heart and have blessings for you and yours, always and forever.

Is there a recourse where I can learn more and start the application process?

Why yes, there is! Thank you for asking! The following website has information on how to become a living donor, why a living donor is our best hope for success, more FAQ, as well as forms and email address to fill out and apply. Please follow the link here.