Flying the flag for organ donations in Delhi
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Twelve years after Robert Brush received a double lung transplant he continues his crusade for people to become organ donors.
Brush, who has cystic fibrosis, has been an advocate for organ donor registration since his successful second transplant in 2001.
Most recently he, along with the staff at RT Respiratory Inc., is spreading the word with a “Be a donor” flag flying at RT's Delhi office.
“We support organ donors, that is what we do,” said Carrie Dyjack of RT Respiratory. “We have people currently on the lung transplant list.”
Brush himself used the oxygen services at RT Respiratory before his surgery.
“Before a transplant, you live on oxygen,” said Brush, who continues to use their services for his sleep apnea. “I wouldn't be where I am without people like this.”
Brush noted technology has improved vastly to allow patients to live longer in order to make it to a transplant.
“Those are the success stories, the ones that get off of oxygen, that is what we want to see,” said Dyjack.
RT Respiratory will continue to fly the “Be a donor” flag below the Canadian Flag in Delhi.
Brush will continue to promote registering to become an organ donor online at www.beadonor.ca through his discussions at local schools and his everyday interactions with the community.
Brant and Norfolk Counties rank 109 out of 179 communities in Ontario for donor registration rate at 27%, which is above the provincial rate of 23%.
A single donor can save up to eight lives through the donation of organs and provide tissue to dozens.
In 2011, there were about 1,500 people waiting for an organ transplant in the province.
Sarah Doktor
519-426-3528 ext. 112