Here is a documentary that will introduce you to the reality of patients who need organs from donors. Join their emotional journey to see how they hold on to hope and continue to wait for a miracle.
Transplant Stories is a four-part series starting November 19 on Knowledge Network, takes viewers into the world of organ transplants in BC. Directed by Sheona McDonald, this series gives a rare look at Vancouver General and St. Paul’s hospitals, following patients, their families, and medical teams as they work to save lives.
Follow the emotional journeys of patients in BC who need organ transplants and the remarkable work of medical professionals who perform these life-giving procedures.
Watch Transplant Stories, a new docuseries premiering November 19 on Knowledge Network. https://t.co/Wt31lixy5u pic.twitter.com/eRBrwAZB4d
— Knowledge Network (@kpassiton) November 4, 2024
In the first episode, we meet Brett, a young father from Powell River, waiting for a liver transplant. He gets a call saying a liver is available, and he and his family rush to Vancouver, only to find out the liver isn’t a match.
This disappointment shows the emotional stress patients and families go through. We also meet Dianne, a 72-year-old woman from Langley, waiting for a double lung transplant. She and her husband, Terry, have made over 80 trips to Vancouver for her treatments. Despite her health struggles, Dianne stays positive and hopes to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary. After her surgery, her first breath without a breathing tube is a moving moment, and just nine weeks later, she is able to walk without an oxygen tank.
The series also tells the story of Suki, who needs a second kidney transplant after his first one failed. His daughter remembers how seeing doctors save her father’s life when she was young inspired her to become a doctor. Another patient, Marcela, is waiting for a cornea transplant to restore sight in her right eye. Although full eye transplants aren’t possible yet, her quick cornea surgery shows hope for the future of transplants.
Transplant Stories captures the strength and courage of patients and their families, and shows the importance of organ donors and healthcare workers. Executive producer Cathy Schoch says almost everyone knows someone affected by organ donation, making these stories even more meaningful. Knowledge Network CEO Michelle van Beusekom thanks everyone who shared their stories, emphasizing the life-saving role of organ donors and medical teams.