'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
Poilievre says Canadians 'fleeing' to Nicaragua, Liberals say it shows he 'doesn't have a clue'
Liberal parliamentarians are criticizing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre over a new video in which he promotes the idea that some Canadians are 'fleeing' Canada to live in Nicaragua because they can't afford a house in this country.
Canadians are eyeing moves to these cities for more affordable housing
Faced with elevated housing prices, half of Canadians in the country's largest cities are considering moving to places with more affordable housing.
Infant dies in ATV crash, N.S. RCMP says alcohol may be a factor
An infant has died and three others, including another child, were taken to hospital following an ATV crash in Forties, N.S., on Monday.
'Do not drive': Nissan warns Canadian drivers of explosion risk impacting 48,000 vehicles
Car manufacturer Nissan has issued a do-not-drive warning for some older vehicles equipped with Takata airbag inflators, due to the risk of explosion during a crash.
Charges against world's top golfer Scottie Scheffler dropped after arrest outside PGA Championship
Criminal charges against Scottie Scheffler have been dismissed, ending a legal saga that began with images of the world’s top male golfer being arrested and handcuffed in Louisville during the PGA Championship.
'Scandals and secrets': On board the world's most exclusive private residential ship
It’s a floating city exclusively home to the 1 per cent, a playground for multimillionaires and billionaires that circumnavigates the world's oceans.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
How Trump's hush money trial verdict could affect the 2024 election
Here is how three potential outcomes from the jury room ─ a guilty verdict, an acquittal or a hung jury ─ could affect the presidential campaign.
New Orleans mystery: Human skull padlocked to a dumbbell is pulled out of water by a fisherman
New Orleans mystery: Human skull padlocked to a dumbbell is pulled out of water by a fisherman