Member Statement (25 April 2022)

From Hansard (25 April 2022)

 

National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week

Mr. Keisig: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week runs April 24th to the 30th. This is to raise awareness of the critical need of donors across Canada. This also encourages us to register our intentions and express our wishes to loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, 15 years ago today, I sat with my father in an Edmonton hospital after receiving such a gift, a selfless act that someone or their family had made in quite possibly the hardest time in their lives. It provided an unbelievable gift to my family.

While we have always been firm believers in organ donation, it really hits home when you experience the benefits directly, Mr. Speaker. My daughters, nieces, and nephews were able to enjoy every aspect of their childhood with their grandpa, something that was not going to happen without this gift. Mr. Speaker, I was able to witness my children doing all the things I did with my dad growing up — riding horses, working cattle, farming. There wasn’t a time that dad didn’t have a girl on his hip at the farm.

So during this week, Mr. Speaker, and every week, I urge you and all members to please register to be a donor. It literally will save a life and change many others for the better, like my family’s.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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