National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week - NOTDAW

Once again due to COVID-19, we held a ZOOM virtual meeting.  Sixteen members joined the meeting, and in addition to regular orders of business, certificates of appreciation were presented for 1 year post transplant, 5 years, ten years, fifteen years, twenty years, twenty five years and thirty years post transplant! Each member had their certificates either hand delivered or mailed to them. If you are interested in seeing or discussing the AGM minutes, feel free to contact one of our board members. (This image taken from 2019 AGM). Manitoba's online organ and tissue donor registry 222.signupforlife.ca finished 2021 at approximately 59,000 registrations. In April, 2022, the registry will have been serving Manitobans for 10 years. To mark the milestone, Transplant Manitoba is pushing towards #10Kfor10! to add 10,000 new registrations throughout 2022 while continuing to make organ and tissue donor awareness part of everyday conversation.

NOTDAW runs from April 24 through April 29, 2022. This year marks the 25th  anniversary of the national awareness week. 2022 also marks 10 years of online service for Manitoba's online organ and donor registry, www.signupforlife.ca.  To mark this milestone, a goal has been set to add 10,000 new registrations by the end of the year. The registry currently holds more than 60,000 Manitobans . Plan some photo opportunities; in honour of GSD the Forks Winnipeg sign and the Legislative building will be lit green that evening. For NOTDAW, the Forks Winnipeg sign will be lit blue and green  representing Transplant MB's gift of life colors. The signupforlife.ca logo will be projected on the legislature  on April 25 and 26. Also watch for a special announcement from Canada post on April 7th! How you can also take part: follow social media sites like Transplant Manitoba on Facebook and Twitter and www.canadianbloodservices.ca to see how Manitoba's various organ donor agencies are promoting awareness. 

The 2022 Annual Heartlinks picnic has been postponed to September 10th, 2022. Concerns over the current highly active COVID virus varients' was the reason to move the picnic to September 10th. A final decision will be based on virus activity closer to the re-scheduled date.

After the Canadian Transplant Association had discussions with the Local Organizing Committee in Winnipeg, the Canadian Transplant Association Board of Directors have come to the disappointing but necessary decision to cancel the 2020 Canadian Transplant Games scheduled in Winnipeg due to ongoing challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 7, 2022 marks the fourth annual Green Shirt Day. Visit their Facebook page: Green Shirt Day. The Winnipeg sign at the Forks and the Legislative building will be lit up green for a great picture opportunity to share on social media to spread the organ donor awareness word. Logan Boulet's parents Toby and Bernadine Boulet launched GREEN SHIRT DAY in 2019 in honor of the "Logan Boulet Effect" and organ donation awareness. The April 6, 2018 bus crash involving the Humboldt Broncos hockey team resulted in the loss of 16 lives, including Logan Boulet's. Logan was a registered organ donor prior to the crash and once news of this selfless act became known, Canadians responded and began registering across the country in a wave of generosity never seen before. More than 100,000 Canadians registered and it became known as the LoganBouletEffect. Having conversations about the gift of life is important. Logan had shared his decision to be a donor with his family and in honoring his wishes, six others received a second chance at life. By continuing the Logan Boulet Effect, have a conversation with your family about organ donation and register If it's important to you. It takes just  two minutes and two pieces of ID by using www.signupforlife.ca #GreenShirtday #LoganBouletEffect #organdonation #Tellyourfamily #BeInspired #signupforlife.ca #beadonor #havethechat #shareyourwishes

Dr. Schaffer introducing the Heart Failure and Transplant Clinic's newest Cardiologist, Dr. Sidhu.

Heartlinks Vice President Barb Kolomi presenting Alan Scramstad with his certificate for 10 years post transplant. Congratulations to Alan on his special milestone!

Heartlinks President Alan Scramstad presenting member Baljit Singh with his certificate for 15 years post transplant. Congratulations to Baljit on his special milestone!

Alan Scramstad presenting member Dave Proven with his certificate for 10 years post transplant.  Congratulations to Dave on his special milestone!

Alan Scramstad presenting member Margaret Stuart with her certificate for 5 years post transplant.  Congratulations to Margaret on her special milestone!

Alan Scramstad presenting member Daswell McLeod with his certificate for 5 years post transplant.  Congratulations Daswell!

The 2020 Canadian Transplant games will be proudly held in Winnipeg.  The T-shirt with the logo design was shown off at our Christmas party.  This image shows the front of the shirt.

The logo showing the Manitoba Buffalo on the back of the T-shirt.

The 10th Annual 2020 Canadian Transplant Games banner paid a visit to the AGM and get together.  It is a stunning banner!

It's not a party without cake!

Heartlinks wrapped up its annual AGM and Christmas get together with a fantastic group of 57 attending! Our group is a unique blend of transplant recipients, LVAD's and those waiting for transplant.  A great time was had by all. Until next year!

From the Heartlinks executive board to all its members, we wish you Season's Greetings and a happy healthy New Year!