Three days a week, six-year-old Aidyn Delorme spends seven hours being driven from his 91原创 home to Vancouver芒鈧劉s Children芒鈧劉s Hospital, being hooked up for more than three hours on a dialysis machine, then driving home.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s his normal,芒鈧� says mom Danielle Valero. 芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s not normal, but that芒鈧劉s what he芒鈧劉s always known.芒鈧�
Even before birth, Aidyn was diagnosed as a kidney patient 芒鈧�� his urine backed up and damaged the crucial organs.
Now his only hope for a life free of being hooked up to machines is a kidney transplant. He芒鈧劉s one of the faces B.C. Transplant is hoping will convince British Columbians to
A two-day quest 芒鈧�� from 9 a.m. Monday to 9 a.m. Wednesday 芒鈧�� is hoping to net 48,000 new donors.
Valero is asked what a transplant would mean to her son 芒鈧�� forced to spend three days in hospital, he can only attend school two days a week.
芒鈧揘ow I芒鈧劉m probably going to cry,芒鈧� says Valero. 芒鈧揌e tolerates dialysis, but it takes a long time. He gets bored and antsy.芒鈧�
Because of his compromised health, Aidyn is supposed to be careful, but, of course, he芒鈧劉s just a young, boisterous boy.
芒鈧揌e loves to play hockey, soccer and basketball. He芒鈧劉s a typical boy 芒鈧�� he likes to get into things that he shouldn芒鈧劉t,芒鈧� his mom said.
Life was never straightforward for Aidyn.
芒鈧揟hey induced him one month early,芒鈧� recalls mom. 芒鈧揑 hugged him, and they took him straight into surgery.芒鈧�
Valero, 34, who had to quit her job as a veterinary assistant to accommodate Aidyn芒鈧劉s dialysis, dreams that one day he芒鈧劉ll get a donor match so he can swim and be rambunctious like other kids without health concerns.
芒鈧揂 lot of people don芒鈧劉t realize that an adult can be a donor to a child,芒鈧� said Valero. 芒鈧揌e goes in for dialysis, and there are three other kids there with him. They芒鈧劉re all waiting for transplants.芒鈧�
B.C. Transplant spokeswoman Peggy John said there are plenty of B.C. folks in their sights.
芒鈧揑t is ambitious,芒鈧� John said of the two-day, 48,000 target. 芒鈧揑f 85 per cent of British Columbians believe in the program, and only 19 per cent are signed up, we芒鈧劉ve got at least two million people outstanding.芒鈧�
John pleads with would-be donors to log on to the society芒鈧劉s website 芒鈧�� transplant.bc.ca 芒鈧�� and register.
芒鈧揑t only takes two minutes,芒鈧� said John. 芒鈧揙ne organ donor can save up to eight lives ... It gives a person another chance at life.芒鈧�
For those who prefer to sign up in person, volunteers will be at the Vancouver London Drugs at Georgia and Granville streets on Tuesday from 1 to 5 p.m.
- From the Vancouver Province
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