It was a record-setting year in 2018 for transplants in B.C., but one Prince George family experienced devastation and solace in the same time frame.
The Woodford family went through the worst imaginable scenario: losing your son and brother. And although they suffered heartbreak, their son ended up being a lifesaver, literally.
Matthew Woodford was 34 years old when he passed away last year, but had signed up as an organ donor from when he was 18-years-old.
“He was in the ICU and the doctor was saying that he would be a good candidate probably to donate,” his mom, Noreen Woodford tells PrinceGeorgeMatters. “So we went through that process with BC Transplant and he was able to donate four of his organs and there were four successful recipients.”
Matthew was in the ICU at Vancouver General Hospital after being rescued from a house fire. He was put on life support in the intensive care unit.
“Because of what the first responders did, he (Matthew) was able to be a donor,” his mom adds.
Going through something as tragic as losing your son and brother, the family says B.C. Transplant was exceptional throughout the whole process.
“The people that worked for B.C. Transplant were all just beautiful souls,” Matthew’s sister, Suzanne Ware says. “They were so compassionate, kind, and loving. The process does take a little while to get everything put into place and so they knew the wait was going to be hard for us and they were still there to answer questions and explain everything in great detail. They were just phenomenal people to work with throughout this process.”
The family are all now organ donors themselves. Matthew’s dad, Rick, says they were registered before but that registration may have expired.
“You have a way now of registering through your health card,” he says.
While Matthew was able to give the gift of life to four others, the family has a hard time putting into words what their son has done for others.
“It would be very hard to express to you how we feel,” Rick says. “But I can tell you it absolutely, the fact that you’re losing your child is hard but knowing that other people are going to benefit and be able to carry on and have better lives or even just adult lives, made it so much easier for us.”
Since Matthew’s donations, the family received a letter from the recipient of his lungs.
“When we read it, we cried at first,” Rick explains. “I’ve probably read that letter 10 or 12 times since I got it and every time I read it, I just get this smile that this person has a life; breathing fresh air, going for walks, they’re able to go fishing. The emotional benefit of having a child or anyone that would donate, the rewards are enormous.”
The family isn’t aware of who the recipients themselves are as the letters (if any correspondence is sent between the two parties) are anonymous and goes through B.C. Transplant before being passed off.
In 2018, a total of 502 British Columbians received transplants, which sets a new record.
There were 122 deceased donors in 2018; 25 recipients were recorded in the Northern region, while there was one deceased donor recorded in the Northern region.
All transplants in the province take place in one of three centres based in Vancouver, including BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital, and St. Paul’s Hospital.
