'I thought I was never going to get one': Kidney recipient hopes to inspire people to sign their organ donation card
The difference between spending the rest of his life on dialysis or receiving a new kidney came down to a 10-minute window for Carl Harris.
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The difference between spending the rest of his life on dialysis or finally receiving a new kidney all came down to a short 10-minute window for Carl Harris.
When Harris, a Lloydminster man who had spent five years on the provincial transplant list, first found out his diabetes was causing kidney failure he was scared of what the future would bring.
The diagnosis not only brought an end to his career as an electrician but also an end to his freedom — keeping him in stasis as he spent four hours three days a week in hospital on dialysis. But it wasn’t only dialysis; his failing kidneys were also causing him to go blind. To treat this problem, he was required to attend regular procedures in Edmonton where his eyes would be punctured by a needle to help retain his eyesight — a problem quickly filtered out thanks to his recent transplant.
“I actually thought I was never going to get one because the wait time in Saskatchewan is usually about three and a half years and I waited five,” he said. “So I thought maybe I was getting missed or I have the wrong blood type, but to finally get the call it was a miracle — just unbelievable.”
Harris was lucky he was quick to check his voicemail the day the doctor called because in the message he was told if he didn’t get back to them in 10 minutes they would likely move along to the next candidate.
Shocked, but very happy, he called back immediately, jumped in the car with two of his brothers and drove to Saskatoon.
When they arrived, Harris was taken up to a private room where he would spent the night being “treated like a king.” Early the next morning, he was wheeled down to the operating room — a moment that not only brought relief but also a bit of fear.
“You have to sign a paper that says that they can’t promise that you will actually live — so that was a little scary,” he remembers. “So, I told my brothers they could have all my stuff. Next thing I know I was awake and didn’t even know the operation was done.”
It took a little while for the drugs to wear off after the operation, but once they did he was told the surgery had gone perfectly. He says it is hard to even explain how happy he was, but he remembers the realization bringing tears to his eyes.
And with National Organ Donor Day taking place on Valentine’s Day, he is hoping to inspire as many people as he can to take a look at his story and understand how important the gift of a new organ can be.
Though he doesn’t know who gave him his second chance at life he says he can’t thank them enough for signing the donation card and their family for honouring their wish.
“It means so much to me that there are people out there willing to donate to helps someone else live a better life,” he finished. “Receiving this kidney gave me a life I thought I would never have.”
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