This week is Living Donation Week, as proclaimed by the University Health Network’s Centre for Living Organ Donation. A living donation occurs when someone gives a kidney or part of their liver to a patient, significantly improving the survival rates for those suffering from organ failure.

The provincial government is bringing awareness to the critical need for organ donations. Health Minister Everett Hindley says, “Living organ donors are true heroes, giving a second chance at life to those in need.” He encourages eligible residents to learn more about living organ donation consider registering as a donor. You have got to be 16 or older to donate a liver and 18 or olde for a kidney donation. (The rest pf the eligibility list is below.)

The Saskatchewan Organ and Tissue Donor registry was launched in Saskatchewan in September of 2020 and a news release from the province says to date, over 30,000 eligible residents have registered.

Eligibility criteria:

A living kidney or liver donor could be a spouse, family member, friend, co-worker or stranger. Donors must be older than 16 for liver donation and older than 18 for kidney donation. They must also have a healthy weight for their height, be in good health without diabetes, cancer, kidney, or heart disease and be willing to freely donate. Kidney donors who come forward for a specific recipient and are not a match may still be able to help that recipient through the National Kidney Paired Donation Program.

Anyone over the age of 16 is eligible to register their decision to be an organ and tissue donor registry and request information about the process of becoming a living organ donor at www.givelifesask.ca.