'My life is in someone else's hands': Edmontonian looking online for kidney donor
An Edmonton woman is making a desperate plea to the public to help save her life.
Laurie Clement started noticing kidney failure symptoms around Christmas of 2010, and by July of 2011 was started on dialysis treatment in Edmonton.
After about nine months, Clement found a match: Her sister donated a kidney in July of 2013.
“Two days after transplant, the disease came back and attacked it,” she explained.
“Now I’m back at square one.”
Clement is back on dialysis with a kidney function of about seven per cent and spends six days a week at the University of Alberta Hospital.
High doses of prednisone, an anti-rejection drug, has led to other health complications. Clement now has holes in her retinas and is considered legally blind.
“I need a kidney and hopefully soon,” she said. “I want to get back to living life.”
'IT'S OUT OF MY CONTROL'
In an attempt to get the word out, Clement posted her donor plea on Facebook.
“Anything to get the word out,” she said.
Within hours of posting, Clement had received dozens of messages from people sharing their story, sending support and others asking how to help.
“It was just boom, boom, boom, constant, within just a couple minutes of it being approved,” she said.
Clement was taken aback by the community response, recalling how emotional she felt in the moment and even “hopeful" she could one day find a donor.
“It’s out of my control, my life is in someone else’s hands.”
'HOPEFULLY WE'LL FIND A MATCH'
Since the diagnosis, Clement shared that she still has so much to live for and really tries to “embrace life” now as much as possible.
“When this first happened I didn’t think I would be a grandparent,” she explained, taking a long pause to hold back the tears.
“Now I have a five-year-old grandson and I want more of that.”
The massive impact this journey has had on the family weighs heavily on Clement’s mind. She said her kidney disease is “all consuming,” and feels immense guilt about the pressure it’s put on her loved ones.
“There’s actually more bad days than good days,” Steve Clement, her husband explained. “So sometimes she’s in bed almost all day and somebody has to pick up the slack.”
“And do everything,” she added.
“It's part of my vows for better or worse, ‘I love you,’” he said, as he turned to look at her.
“I’ll do whatever I can to do it and hopefully we’ll find a match for you.”
According to Clement, 16 strangers have offered to get tested to see if they’re a match.
“I can take any blood type as long as I have someone who can donate,” she explained.
“It’s not just signing the donor card, it's donating while people are alive.”
For more information on Clement's Facebook post, click here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6979388.1722030190!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Celine Dion delivers stirring comeback performance at Paris Olympics opening ceremony
Against the rainy Paris night sky, Celine Dion staged the comeback of her career with a powerful performance from the Eiffel Tower to open the Olympic Games.
Jasper wildfire: 'Several weeks' before residents can return, premier says
Premier Danielle Smith said Friday afternoon in Hinton while weather conditions are cooler, the Jasper fire is still considered out of control and that Jasper residents can expect to be away from their homes 'for several weeks.'
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in creek in Mississauga: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead a day after he went missing in a park in Mississauga, Peel police say.
Irish museum pulls Sinead O'Connor waxwork after just one day due to backlash
An Irish museum will withdraw a waxwork of singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor just one day after installing it, following a backlash from her family and the public, it told CNN in a statement on Friday.
Winnipeg senior's account overdrawn for $146,000 water bill
A Winnipeg senior is getting soaked with a six-figure water bill.
Turpel-Lafond won't sue CBC over Cree heritage report that took 'heavy toll': lawyer
The lawyer for a former judge whose claims to be Cree were questioned in a CBC investigation says his client is not considering legal action against the broadcaster after the Law Society of British Columbia this week backed her claims of Indigenous heritage.
Driver charged after flashing high beams at approaching police
Orillia OPP arrested and charged a driver with impaired driving after flashing their high beams.
Major Canadian bank experiences direct deposit outage on payday
Scotiabank says it has fixed a technical issue that impacted direct deposits on Friday morning.
Health Canada warns some naloxone kits contain false instructions
Health Canada is warning some take-home naloxone kits come with bad instructions that should be ignored in favour of the correct guidance.