Transplant Ambassador Program

12/09/2025

📢LAST CALL TO RSVP FOR OUR LAST WEBINAR OF 2025📢
Tonight a panelist of Ambassadors will be sharing their stories and experiences with living donor kidney transplantation. Registration for this webinar will be open until 5pm EST with our webinar starting at 6:30pm EST.
RSVP by sending an email to webinarregistration@transplantambassadors.ca or by calling 833-274-3740 💚
When: THIS EVENING FROM 6:30pm-8:00pm
Where: join by Microsoft Teams or by phone
View previous TAP webinars at: https://transplantambassadors.ca/tap-webinar-series/
livingkidneytransplantation

12/08/2025

🌟AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT: Mike🌟
This is TAP donor Ambassador, Mike. When Mike found out that his cousin, Cathy, was in end-stage kidney disease and needed a kidney, Mike stepped up to be her donor. In June 2017, Mike donated his kidney to Cathy at London Health Sciences Centre. After a full recovery, Mike was back at work with no ill effects!
As a donor, Mike is grateful to have had the opportunity to make such a difference in someone’s life. Now, eight years later, Mike says the most rewarding part of being a TAP Ambassador is “the opportunity to address misconceptions about living donor transplantation.”
In speaking with a patient who asked “how does one ask someone for a kidney?” Mike shared his and Cathy’s kidney journeys and told the patient “a ‘match’ isn’t always the result of a straightforward ‘ask’.” A year later, that patient reached out to Mike to say that they found a potential donor!
If you’re interested in hearing more about Mike’s journey and decision to be a living kidney donor, join us tomorrow for our last webinar of 2025 - it’s not too late to RSVP!
When: Tuesday December 9th from 6:30pm-8:00pm
Where: join by Microsoft Teams or by phone
RSVP for this inspiring webinar by sending an email to webinarregistration@transplantambassadors.ca or by calling 833-274-3740 💚

12/02/2025

This , the Transplant Ambassador Program (TAP) is celebrating the incredible strength, resilience, and generosity within the transplant community.
We know what you’re going through because we’ve been there: At TAP, our ambassadors bring lived experience, compassion, and hope to kidney patients and potential donors.
This , your gift helps us continue providing compassionate support.
💚Donate today: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/renal-patient-and-donor-foundation/

This organization is designated by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as a registered charity. They comply with the CRA's requirements and have been issued a charitable registration number.

11/29/2025

🌟AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT: McKenzie🌟
Let us introduce, McKenzie, a recent kidney transplant recipient. McKenzie was diagnosed with a genetic type of chronic kidney disease and eventually found herself in end-stage kidney failure with a creatinine of over 1100. Thankfully, McKenzie’s cousin, Susannah was a match for her donated a kidney to McKenzie in August of this year.
McKenzie is so grateful to her living donor, and says that her kidney transplant has been life changing. After a 2 month recovery, McKenzie says she’s now “back to normal and feeling great.”
If you would like to hear more about McKenzie’s transplant, join us for our next webinar on December 9th where McKenzie and others will be sharing their experiences with living kidney transplantation!
When: Tuesday December 9th from 6:30pm-8:00pm
Where: join by Microsoft Teams or by phone
RSVP for this inspiring webinar by sending an email to webinarregistration@transplantambassadors.ca or by calling 833-274-3740 💚

11/20/2025

A few of our London Transplant Ambassadors were pleased to be on hand yesterday to recognize London Health Science Centre’s 50th Anniversary of living donor kidney transplantation. A big milestone worth celebrating!
Special thanks to: London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), Michael Santavy, Dervla Connaughton, Alp Sener, Lakshman Gunaratnam, Anthony Jevnikar, Marian Reich, Caroline & Greg Powers, Graham Nesbitt, Dororthy McKegney, Ola Kazzah. Our very special kidney donors and recipients not present were with us in spirit.

11/19/2025

🌟AMBASSADOR SPOTLIGHT: Bob🌟
Meet Bob, who was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2010 after a viral infection. His kidney function steadily declined over the next 8 years, and he was hoping to receive a pre-emptive transplant from his sister. They both faced a setback when she was found not to be eligible as a donor, but he maintained a positive attitude when he began peritoneal dialysis treatment in 2019.
PD treated him well, and after 4 years, 7 months and 3 days on PD, Bob at age 72 received a kidney from a living donor through the Paired Kidney Donation Program. This program connects willing but incompatible donor-recipient pairs, allowing them to “swap” kidneys anonymously within a group. He later wrote a letter to this anonymous donor expressing how he was overwhelmed with gratitude for this gift of life.
Bob recovered well after surgery and is now able to live his life to the fullest. He enjoys dinners with family, theatre outings with his wife, swimming with grandkids and spending time at the family cottage.
Bob is now a proud Transplant Ambassador. “Sharing my story one-on-one with those facing a similar situation can provide a sense of hope throughout their kidney journey. Stay positive, you are not alone, it can all work out!”

11/17/2025

📢ONLY A FEW DAYS LEFT TO VOTE📢
Help us expand TAP into Alberta 💚
How You Can Help: By voting for this project!

Who Can Vote? Anyone! You do not need to live in Alberta to vote. You can vote multiple times, but only one vote per device (e.g., phone, laptop/computer, tablet)

Deadline to Vote: November 21st 2025

Where to Vote: Visit the following link: https://www.fieldlaw.com/idea/bring-transplant-ambassadors-to-alberta!?fbclid=PAdGRleAOJbT5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAadESOp13bqY3Sm8Jpo9nFRAOjEETu5gW1KUMNtlLZeZq04EcRYXFGWD40sC9A_aem_wXwzV9MOtWbQFsNL-eCV4w

11/14/2025

🌟Transplant Ambassador Program Webinar Series Presents🌟
Living Kidney Transplantation: Pushing Past the Initial Shock, Fear & Misinformation!
Are you hesitant to accept a living donor kidney transplant? Are you nervous about becoming a living kidney donor? Then this webinar is for you!
Hear from a panel of TAP Ambassadors share their stories on receiving a living donor kidney and Ambassadors who have been living donors.
When: Tuesday December 9th from 6:30pm-8:00pm
Where: join by Microsoft Teams or by phone
RSVP for this inspiring webinar by sending an email to webinarregistration@transplantambassadors.ca or by calling 833-274-3740 💚
View previous TAP webinars at: https://transplantambassadors.ca/tap-webinar-series/

11/10/2025

📢VOTE FOR TAP IN ALBERTA📢
We are hoping to expand the Transplant Ambassador Program (TAP) into Southern Alberta!
How You Can Help: By voting for this project!

Who Can Vote? Anyone! You do not need to live in Alberta to vote. You can vote multiple times, but only one vote per device (e.g., phone, laptop/computer, tablet)

Deadline to Vote: November 21st 2025

Where to Vote: Visit the following link to vote and learn more: https://www.fieldlaw.com/idea/bring-transplant-ambassadors-to-alberta!

10/16/2025

🌟The Transplant Ambassador Program is proud to share and promote the short film: “A Big Ask?”🌟
The film opens with Krista Merkley, a kidney patient and transplant candidate with PKD. She discusses personal details about her kidney disease and the emotional journey she is taking in trying to find a living kidney donor.
The film also features Wency Leung, an undirected living kidney donor, who discusses her perspective on living organ donation and what that means to her.
The film sheds light on the significance of living organ donation and the importance of kidney patients sharing their stories and looking for a living donor. TAP’s Co-Founder Susan McKenzie states: “With so much misinformation in the public sphere, this short film highlights the issue [living kidney donation] in such an authentic way, it shows kidney patients and potential donors struggle to tease apart fact from fiction.” 💚
This short film was produced by FeltFilm and K4K Productions. To watch the full film, visit: https://youtu.be/z8mgP-q4N64?si=RSbxrOXUiAO13hVO

09/30/2025

🌟Transplant Ambassador Program Webinar Series Presents🌟:
Our next webinar is in 2 days, on October 2nd - we are so excited for this webinar on Genetic Kidney Disease and Transplant!
Dr. Dervla Connaughton will be joining us to discuss new research and provincial guidelines for testing. And we will have a panel of ambassadors sharing their stories with genetic kidney disease. You don’t want to miss this webinar!
It’s not too late RSVP by sending an email to webinarregistration@transplantambassadors.ca or calling 833-274-3740.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 2nd 2025
6:30pm-8:00pm EST
Join by Microsoft Teams or by phone
View previous TAP webinars at: https://transplantambassadors.ca/tap-webinar-series/

09/22/2025

🌟Transplant Ambassador Program Webinar Series🌟
Our next webinar is just around the corner (October 2nd), and TAP is super excited to have Dr. Dervla Connaughton join our TAP panelists for our topic on Genetic Kidney Disease & Transplant!
Don’t forget to RSVP for this exciting webinar by sending an email to webinarregistration@transplantambassadors.ca or by calling 833-274-3740 💚
When: Thursday October 2nd from 6:30pm-8:00pm
Where: join by Microsoft Teams or by phone
View previous TAP webinars at: https://transplantambassadors.ca/tap-webinar-series/