St. Joseph’s Healthcare celebrates record year in kidney transplants

As St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton celebrates a record 2023 when it comes to kidney transplants, one Port Colborne woman is sharing her life-changing story.

Around two years ago, Brittany Smith’s life changed in an instant.

“A year was all it took to go from living a normal, active, healthy lifestyle to hearing the words, ‘kidney failure, organ donation, transplant’.”

Doctors discovered that Smith’s kidney function was decreasing at a rate she said was “incredibly fast” without a way of slowing it down.

What followed was nearly a year of testing and searching for a donor.

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“That year was extremely difficult. my symptoms were getting worse day by day.” said Smith.

Amid the grueling search, her answer eventually came in the form of her brother-in-law Craig Thompson.

“You know, I got to see Brittany at her lowest. I couldn’t be a spectator, I had to help as much as I could.” said Thompson.

“He said that he was going to be my donor… and that we had a date for a surgery. I don’t even know what my initial reaction was. I think I was frozen and just filled with so much emotion.” said Smith.

The surgery took place in September 2022 and was a success.

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“A year later, I’m working, I’m back to the gym, I’m playing sports, I’m back to being me.”

Stories like Smith’s are common in Canada.

According to Canadian Blood Services at any given time, more than 4,000 people in Canada are waiting for an organ and 75 per cent of those need a kidney.

Dr. Christine Ribic of St. Joseph’s says the hospital saw a record amount of kidney transplants last year.

“We transplanted 165 recipients with kidney transplants last year, 56 living donor transplant recipients, and 109 deceased donor transplant recipients. It’s a long way to come, 50 years in the making. Our first transplant was in 1970.”

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The record-breaking numbers are the result of an increase in support for the kidney paired exchange program, as well as the success of the one day donor clinic.

“We’re very proud of the fact that we are the first program in North America that established a one day donor clinic. Typically it would take 6 months to 12 months to work up a living donor. Here at St. Joe’s, we can get it completed in one day.” said Ribic.

She says people should consider becoming a donor by signing up online.

“If you’re healthy and assessed to be able to donate your kidney, you can live a normal healthy life.” explained Ribic.

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Thompson says his life hasn’t been impeded by his donation. He’s gone on working, playing hockey and becoming a father to his second child.

“I can’t guarantee this for everyone, but life really hasn’t changed. I live everyday to the fullest.” he said.

It’s a donation that has endless meaning for those in need.

“I will never be able to put into words the impact that donation has had on my life. I continue to check things off of my bucket list because of that donation.” said Smith.