Kirstin Kennedy, wife of the late Joey Whitford who died early in the year after a lifelong struggle with cystic fibrosis, is asking people to make sure they are registered as organ donors.
April 17 to 23 is National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week, an initiative to encourage people to sign up as organ donors to help those waiting for potentially lifesaving organs. The cause is close to Kennedy’s heart as Whitford’s experiences with organ transplants came to typify his struggle with his disease.
In 2007 Whitford underwent a double lung transplant to fight off his cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that causes mucus buildup in the lungs and is commonly fatal. The successful transplant gave Whitford an extended lease on life. He and Kennedy were finally able to go on the honeymoon that his illness had prevented them from taking.
Since 2009 Whitford had been on the waiting list for a liver transplant. Around a quarter of people with cystic fibrosis have liver problems, a category in which Whitford unfortunately found himself. The couple waited on the list until February 12, 2011 for a transplant. Unfortunately, by that time Whitford’s body had weakened to the point that he was unable to fight off an infection after the surgery. He died on February 21.
Whitford fought to the end and never gave up, according to Kennedy. The strength of character that Whitford had always shown when facing his struggles kept him going and his will to live and fight never waned. Kennedy said his notorious sense of humour stayed strong too and his first words after having a breathing tube removed from his throat after surgery were to tell a visiting friend to get a haircut.
“He was just kind, he was polite and went out of his way to make every person around him feel special,” said Kennedy. “That’s just how you should be in your life but you take it for granted unless you have constant reminders of how precious life is...He touched a lot of people.”
The most upsetting part to Kennedy is that his death could have been prevented had he been able to have his transplant sooner. Even a month earlier Kennedy believes that he would have had the strength to recover from the surgery.
Kennedy said that the support from the community throughout Whitford’s struggle has been overwhelming and amazing. Fundraising, donations and community support kept the family going and Kennedy is incredibly grateful for everyone’s generosity. The community followed his fight and even after his death the service for Whitford in Powell River spilled out from the hall at Carlson Community Club onto the street with people there to pay respect.
“Thank you isn’t enough,” said Kennedy. “We have a lot of people in our corner who really cared how things turned out...Thank you for caring, thank you for trying.”
Many people may think they’re organ donors when in fact they are not after the registration system changed in 1997. Even with a donor sticker on their British Columbia Care Card, people are not registered if they have not re-registered since 1997. Forms are available at Westview Agencies Ltd. or people can register online at www.transplant.bc.ca. Kennedy said one donor has the potential to save 36 lives. Even if they don’t wish to be a donor it is a good idea to register as not wanting to be a donor for administrative reasons.
Cystic fibrosis has no cure and donations are always appreciated to help fight the disease. Kennedy recommends donating to Cystic Fibrosis Canada. She is still posting to her blog Cystic Fibrosis Sucks.
