Kris and Joanna first shared their living kidney donation and transplant story with us during our webinar in April 2025, on the topic of organ donation and transplant advocacy in Canada. Joanna is a PKD patient, and Kris is her living kidney donor. Kris is also the provincial director of the Maritimes for the Canadian Transplant Association (CTA), and advocates for improved access to organ donation and transplant in the East Coast.

At the time of this writing (early May 2025), we also have Kris's story in written form (below). To hear Joanna's story, you can visit this link, which is cued to the exact spot in the webinar when she begins talking about her PKD journey.

Kris’s Story

I first met Joanna in the summer of 2007. I was a summer student at an organization that provided day programs for adults with intellectual disabilities. Joanna would join once a week to offer additional support. She told me about L’Arche, and after my summer job ended, I began working there.

Over the six years I was part of L’Arche in London, Joanna and I lived and worked together (many workers at L’Arche live in shared homes with people with intellectual disabilities). Although Joanna was my supervisor, we became close friends. She never told me how sick she was. I’ve come to understand that she didn’t feel the need to - her PKD wasn’t an issue for her… until it was.

In 2013, I moved to Nova Scotia, but we kept in touch often. I remember her calling me in 2017 to tell me that she was sick - her kidneys were failing and she would need a transplant. For me, the answer was obvious: I’ll give her one of mine. I told her during that call. I didn’t even know if we were a match, and I hadn’t given a moment’s thought to how we’d make it work given the distance between us. I had a basic understanding of organ donation from donating blood since my teens and reading leaflets from Canadian Blood Services, but I’d never imagined I’d become a living donor.

Telling your family you’re choosing to have an organ removed is a unique experience - but mine was incredibly supportive. My mother had worked with Joanna, and everyone in my family knew her. There was no hesitation - just a quiet understanding that this was the right thing to do. Organ donation had already touched my family; my uncle had been an organ donor when he passed away. So, the importance of it was already understood.

When the tests began, everything fell into place. My initial concern about being so far away turned out not to be a problem at all. While I needed several rounds of testing, I was able to coordinate some of them between the London Health Sciences Centre and my local hospital in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. For the tests that had to be done in London, I was either already there or had plans to visit. The timing of it all was almost eerie - it felt meant to be. I was even in London when I got the call saying I was going to be her donor, and I was able to tell her in person that she was getting a kidney - my kidney.

On the morning of the transplant, Joanna and I walked through the hospital hallways in the very early hours playing “The Final Countdown” by Europe. The transplant was a success!

I was supposed to stay in the hospital for at least two days, but they really needed my bed. Since I was doing well, they asked me to leave early. They were in such a rush that they moved me - and all my belongings - into a small room at the end of a hallway to wait for my ride. While I felt incredibly supported leading up to the donation, the post-op support - especially emotional support - was lacking. It felt like I had given a huge part of myself, and then... I was just done.

Another challenge I hadn’t expected was sharing my donor experience with others. Being a donor fills me with pride. I’m grateful I could help Joanna in such a meaningful way. But I was surprised by how many people questioned my motives: “Did you do it for yourself? To feel like a good person?” These questions were hurtful and dismissed the incredible journey Joanna and I shared. I didn’t do it for praise - I did it because it felt right for someone I care deeply about. Joanna’s father even made me an honorary member of their family. Our lives are forever connected, and I’m so thankful for that.

It’s been several years since the transplant, and I have no regrets. Since then, I’ve become an advocate and active member of the Canadian Transplant Association, working to raise awareness and build community for those affected by organ donation.

I hope our story supports others who are considering becoming a donor or navigating PKD and transplant decisions.

More

• Watch the video recording of Kris and Joanna's presentation during our webinar on organ donation and transplant advocacy.
• Check out a number of links and resources that Kris shared with webinar attendees.

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