A family in Surrey, BC is appealing to their community and beyond for anyone willing to commit one of the most selfless acts possible: organ donation.
Poonam Hamal, a 52-year-old mother of three, is on dialysis due to an autoimmune disease that is shutting down her kidneys.
His family put up posters on the streets of Surrey directing people to an online campaign to find someone with a matched blood type who would be willing to donate one of their kidneys.
Hamal has B+ blood, which means that the most suitable donors would have blood types B+, B-, O+ or O-. No one in his family or social circles matches.
“I hope someone will help me,” Poonam said. “My life will get longer and I will continue to be a good person in the world.”
In 2011, Hamal was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, which deteriorates the kidneys to the point where they can no longer support the body. in 2019, she started dialysis, where she has to hang her body on a machine every night for nine hours straight.
She says dialysis is taking a toll on her body, from headaches to backaches to swelling in her limbs.
“It’s very painful. I want to stay happy all the time. I tried, but most of the time I feel sad. It’s very difficult,” Hamal said.
“I’m always tired,” she added, managing to crack a bright smile amid her weariness.
“It’s kind of overwhelming to see your mum hooked up to a machine every night and not being able to do anything,” said Shaurab Hamal, her youngest son, who started an online campaign called Kidney for Mum to help to find a donor.
Posters displayed around Surrey contain an AR code that leads to the website, which tells Hamal’s story as well as details about treatment and being a donor. It also contains the contact details of anyone wishing to get in touch.
He says he has since received many positive responses, from moral support on social media to calls from people offering to get tested.
“We are very grateful for the support and the number of people who have tried to help my mother so far,” Shaurab Hamal said.
The Provincial Health Services Authority says it is difficult to get a match for B+ blood because a smaller percentage of the population has the type.
To add further challenges, Hamal produces antibodies that make his body less receptive to other people’s blood.
A kidney transplant from a living donor is the treatment of choice for Hamal’s condition, the health authority added.
“For patients waiting for a kidney, transplant outcomes are generally better with kidneys from a living donor than from a deceased donor,” he said.
BC Transplant encourages anyone with questions about becoming a living donor to contact the program directly.
‘Life’s Ultimate Gift’
Shaurab Hamal will soon be flying to London to start working at a private equity firm, so he says he treasures his time with his mother.
He says the highlight of his day is walking with his mum through Holland Park in Surrey.
“My mum is a very positive person and when you see her in public you don’t really see that she has a life threatening illness,” he said.
He says he will continue the campaign after his departure.
“My mother is the most loving and caring person in the world,” he said. “It would mean a lot to her if someone gave her the ultimate gift of life.”
As for Poonam, she says simple phone calls from people checking in help keep the family upbeat.
“My husband and kids help me and my family loves me,” Poonam said. “When people call me, I feel very good.”
cbc
