As a student nurse, then as an operating room (OR) nurse, and now as a nurse in the pre-admission and booking office at North Island Hospital, Comox Valley, Sara Cherewaty has witnessed firsthand the life-changing impacts of organ donation.
鈥淚n nursing school, I learned about organ donation and transplants, and later, while working as an OR nurse at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, I participated in an organ retrieval surgery,鈥� said Cherewaty. 鈥淚t was the most touching and trying surgery I was ever a part of. To think about how many lives were going to be saved and changed by this one individual鈥檚 organs made me cry. At the time, I didn鈥檛 imagine that I would ever need a transplant myself.鈥�
In 2001, Cherewaty was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease (PCKD) caused by a genetic disorder where cysts grow in the kidneys.
鈥淕enerally, people who have PCKD don鈥檛 have liver involvement,鈥� she explained. 鈥淯nfortunately, I did.鈥�
With the help of her nephrologist, Cherewaty managed to maintain her kidney function through a healthy lifestyle, however, the cysts spread to her liver.
鈥淎s time went on, the cysts on my liver caused it to grow to where it filled my entire abdominal cavity. It was extremely uncomfortable, and it had a direct and dramatic impact on my life and my physical, emotional and mental health.鈥�
鈥淚 had to leave my job as an OR nurse. I was unable to take part in the activities I loved and had difficulty playing with my daughter,鈥� she said.
After two surgeries to drain some of the cysts on her liver and reduce swelling, Cherewaty was informed that she would need a liver transplant to cure her Polycystic Liver Disease (PLD).
This diagnosis meant Cherewaty was now on a waiting list for a liver transplant.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 go anywhere without my cellphone, in case I got 鈥榯he call鈥欌��, explained Cherewaty. 鈥淓verywhere I went, I mentally planned out what I would do if I suddenly had to go to Vancouver for a transplant. It was a very difficult time for me.鈥�
Cherewaty waited 18 months before she finally got the life-changing call that a donor liver was available.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more thankful for the entire health care team I had, from the lab techs to the surgical team,鈥� said Cherewaty. 鈥淚 feel very lucky because my care team was amazing. I鈥檓 also grateful for all the support from my colleagues.鈥�
鈥淲e were all rooting for Sara,鈥� said Samantha Kennedy, clinical nurse leader at North Island Hospital, Comox Valley. 鈥淲e were hopeful she would get a donor, and when she did the entire team was behind her all the way.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 getting close to the three-year anniversary of my surgery, and I am doing very well,鈥� reflected Cherewaty. 鈥淚 would not have made it this far without the support of many friends and family and this amazing community. My family and I are so thankful, and I am forever grateful to the donor for the gift of life they gave me.鈥�
Each December, BC Transplant celebrates Operation Popcorn, where volunteers visit hospitals and transplant clinics with boxes of popcorn to thank healthcare providers like Cherewaty who make organ donation and transplant a reality. As an Island Health nurse and a liver transplant recipient, Cherewaty鈥檚 unique position has made her even more acutely aware of the importance of organ donation.
B.C. has had an online organ donor registry for more than 25 years.
鈥淚f you died today, could your death help someone on this list? That is, are you registered as an organ donor?鈥� asked Cherewaty. 鈥淲hen I ask people this question, most people say 鈥榊es, my consent to donate is on my driver鈥檚 licence鈥� but that answer is incorrect! You must officially register your decision regarding organ donation with BC Transplant.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 so important for everyone to think about organ donation as part of their end-of-life wishes, speak with their family and then register their decision,鈥� said David Torney, BC Transplant organ donation co-ordinator in Nanaimo. 鈥淚t takes only two minutes and all you need is your Personal Health Number. You could save up to eight lives as an organ donor.鈥�
In 2023, 563 British Columbians received a transplants from 160 deceased donors and 77 living kidney donors. Currently, 1.59 million British Columbians have officially registered their decision for organ donation, which is only 32 per cent of the population.
鈥淲e can do so much better,鈥� said Cherewaty. 鈥淚 urge people to do what a perfect stranger did for me 鈥� register to be an organ donor and give the gift of life.鈥�
For more information about becoming an organ donor, please visit .
To register, visit . Not sure if you are registered? You can check to see if you are registered at .
