In this powerful episode of The Living Transplant Podcast, host Candice Coghlan is joined by Crystal Hardy, a First Nations patient, researcher, and advocate whose lived experience with dialysis and kidney transplantation deeply informs her work in Indigenous kidney health.

Crystal shares her journey through kidney failure, dialysis, and transplant — not just as a patient navigating a complex healthcare system, but as a researcher working to transform it. She reflects on the moment she realized that life on dialysis could still be full of purpose, the importance of feeling seen within healthcare, and how cultural safety, trust, and community connection directly impact health outcomes.

Together, Candice and Crystal explore the systemic barriers First Nations patients face, including geographic isolation, under-referral for transplant, cultural mismatch in care, and inadequate navigation and relocation supports. Crystal introduces the Indigenous Kidney Health Project, explaining how Indigenous storywork and the Two-Eyed Seeing framework are being used to identify gaps in kidney care and reimagine more equitable, culturally congruent systems.

This episode is a moving, insightful conversation about advocacy, food sovereignty, patient partnership, and hope — and a reminder that kidney care must meet people where they are, honour who they are, and listen to the stories they carry.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How Crystal’s lived experience as a dialysis and transplant patient shaped her research and advocacy
• Why feeling seen and heard is foundational to culturally safe kidney care
• The real-world barriers First Nations patients face when accessing dialysis and transplantation
• Why Indigenous patients are referred for transplant significantly less often — and what needs to change
• What the Indigenous Kidney Health Project is and why patient voices lead the work
• How Two-Eyed Seeing blends Indigenous knowledge with biomedical research
• The role of food sovereignty and traditional foods in kidney health
• Why connection, purpose, and peer support are essential on the kidney journey
• How healthcare systems can move from “cultural training” to truly individualized, respectful care

Key Takeaways

• Kidney disease is a lifelong journey — transplantation is not a cure, but a transition
• Cultural safety is not a checklist; it is built through trust, listening, and relationships
• Geography and relocation create profound inequities in access to kidney care
• Indigenous patients must be partners and leaders in research about their care
• Food, culture, language, and community are inseparable from health outcomes
• Purpose and peer connection can be life-sustaining during dialysis and transplant journeys
• Systemic change is possible — and already beginning — when patients are centered

Notable Quotes

“I was my own best case study.”

“I see you.”

“You can’t reform the system if you don’t know what people are actually living through.”

“Transplant isn’t a cure — it’s a different way of living with care.”

About the Guest

Crystal N. Hardy is a First Nations kidney patient, researcher, and advocate whose work focuses on Indigenous kidney health, cultural safety, and equitable access to transplantation. Drawing from her own experiences with dialysis and transplant, Crystal leads research that centers Indigenous voices, storywork, and patient partnership to address systemic gaps in kidney care.

If you are a First Nations patient, caregiver, or healthcare provider interested in supporting or participating in the Indigenous Kidney Health Project, Crystal welcomes connection, please reach out to [email protected] 

About the Host

Candice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a kidney transplant recipient and board member of the National Kidney Foundation. Diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, Candice spent time on dialysis before receiving a living donor kidney transplant from her mother.

Resources & Links

Learn more about living organ donation: www.livingorgandonation.ca

Living Kidney Donation at UHN: UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre

Living with Kidney Disease Thunder Bay Event Recording: Living with Kidney Disease

Crystal Hardy Story 1:49:56

CanSOLVE CKD Indigenous People’s Engagement & Research Council

Get In Touch

Have questions, comments, or ideas for a future episode?

Email the Centre for Living Organ Donation at [email protected]

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.

In this episode of the Living Transplant podcast, host Candice Coghlan turns the microphone on the show’s very own producer, Amy Schluter. Amy is a podcast host and producer, an entrepreneur, a mom of three and now a 25-year kidney transplant recipient. As we celebrate this incredible milestone of twenty-five years since her kidney transplant, Amy joins Candice for a heartfelt, funny, and deeply honest conversation about her unexpected diagnosis at 25, the life-changing gift from her sister, and what it’s like to build a full, vibrant life in the decades that follow. It’s a journey defined by resilience, creativity, and the joy of living life to the fullest.

A transplant isn’t a cure, but there have been significant advances over the last 25 years. Amy takes us back to the year 2000, discussing the technological landscape of transplantation at the time and how laparoscopic surgery was a groundbreaking procedure for her donor, her sister Kelly. Candice and Amy discuss the evolution of transplant care, from the early days of "Timex watch" medication reminders to the modern era of health tech.

Listeners will hear inspiring stories about Amy’s high-risk pregnancy with twins, the messy, emotional realities of recovery, including a memorable blender explosion and her hopes for the future, from organ cloning dreams to simply staying healthy to watch her kids grow. 

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, newly transplanted, or decades into your journey, a caregiver or a medical professional, this conversation offers inspiration, humour, and a unique perspective drawn from decades of lived transplant experience. It’s a powerful testament to the longevity and quality of life possible after transplantation.

Key Takeaways:

• The 25-Year Milestone: Amy reflects on living longer with her transplant than without it.
• Pregnancy and Twins: A look at the rare and high-risk journey of carrying twins as a transplant recipient and the medical curiosity it sparked at St. Michael's Hospital.
• Technological Advancements: How transplant surgery and aftercare have evolved over the last two decades.
• Balancing Act: Insights on managing a career as a serial entrepreneur and podcast producer while prioritizing health and family.
• Mental Resilience: Overcoming the trauma of diagnosis and the importance of community support.

Links and Resources

Chef Over Your Shoulder Podcast

Bespoke Productions

Kidney Foundation Peer Support

Pregnancy & Kidney Disease

Transplant Pregnancy Registry

Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ Donation

Click here for more information about living organ donation.

Click here for more information about living kidney transplantation.

Centre for Living Organ Donation on Instagram

Ajmera Transplant Centre on Instagram

Each episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.

About our Host

Candice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at [email protected]. Thanks for spending your time with us.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

In this episode of the Living Transplant podcast, Dr. Edward Cole shares his extensive experience in nephrology and kidney transplantation. With a career spanning over fifty years at the University Health Network, Dr. Cole has witnessed the trajectory of transplant medicine from its infancy to its advacned state today. He reflects on the future of nephrology, including potential innovations in transplantation and the significance of mentorship in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• The Early Days: What transplant medicine looked like in 1975 versus today.
• The Game Changers: How drugs like Cyclosporine revolutionized survival rates.
• The Science of Matching: Understanding HLA antigens and the breakthrough of the Paired Donation Program.
• Future Horizons: Xenotransplantation and the dream of eliminating anti-rejection medication.
• Hard Truths: Dr. Cole’s candid advice on patient advocacy and the realities of a medical career.

Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ Donation

Click here for more information about living organ donation.

Click here for more information about living kidney transplantation. 

Click here for more information about Polycystic Kidney Disease. 

Ajmera Transplant Centre on Instagram

Each episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.

About our Host

Candice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at [email protected]. Thanks for spending your time with us.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

In this conversation, Yitzi Gal discusses the significance of practicing failure through improvisation and mistakes in a safe environment, emphasizing the need to differentiate between minor errors and life-threatening situations. He highlights the importance of emotional resilience and the ability to assess risks in everyday life.

Key Takeaways

• We need to practice failure in a safe space.
• Mistakes should not be equated with life-threatening situations.
• Emotional training is essential for risk assessment.
• Not every failure leads to significant consequences.
• Understanding the context of mistakes is crucial for growth.
• Teaching students about failure prepares them for real life.
• Practicing in a controlled environment builds confidence.
• Life lessons often come from making mistakes.
• Differentiating between minor and major risks is vital.
• Emotional health is impacted by our perception of failure.

Links and Resources

Improv for Anxiety

One Man’s Solution for Crushing Anxiety: Improv

Play with Fire Improv

Brene Brown TED Talk: The Power of Vulnerability

Internal Family Systems (IFS) – Richard Schwartz

The Power of Addiction and The Addiction of Power: Gabor Maté at TEDxRio+20

Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ Donation

Learn more about Living Organ Donation

Learn more about Kidney Transplantation

Centre for Living Organ Donation on Instagram

Ajmera Transplant Centre on Instagram

Each episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.

About our Host

Candice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at [email protected]. Thanks for spending your time with us.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

In this episode of Living Transplant, we sit down with Dr. Susy Hota, an infectious diseases physician and medical director of Infection Prevention and Control at UHN. Dr. Hota takes us inside the world of C. difficile infections and the remarkable, life-changing treatment known as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT).

From her early fascination with microbiology to leading pandemic preparedness at one of Canada’s largest hospitals, Dr. Hota shares her journey, insights from the frontlines of COVID-19, and how collaboration and relationships underpin every breakthrough in healthcare.

We then explore the gut microbiome — the “hidden organ” inside us — and how FMT offers new hope for patients living with recurrent C. diff. Dr. Hota also demystifies the donor process, potential risks, and the exciting future of microbiome research that could transform how we treat everything from gut disorders to mental health.

• Hope and healing: Even for those with chronic or recurrent infections, there are innovative treatments that can restore quality of life.
• Relationships matter: Whether in outbreak response or research, collaboration is key to success in healthcare.
• Your gut is an ecosystem: FMT is changing how we think about disease — focusing on restoring balance, not just killing bacteria.
• The future is bright: As microbiome science advances, new possibilities are emerging for treating conditions far beyond infection.

About our Guest

Dr. Susy Hota is the Division Head of Infectious Diseases at UHN and Sinai Health and the Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control at UHN. She has been a leader in pandemic preparedness, infection control, and innovative treatments such as fecal microbiota transplantation. Her work bridges clinical care, research, and systems-level leadership to improve safety and health outcomes for patients across Canada.

Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ Donation

Learn more about Living Organ Donation

Learn more about Kidney Transplantation

Learn more about Dr. Hota’s research and fecal transplantation

Centre for Living Organ Donation on Instagram

Ajmera Transplant Centre on Instagram

Each episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.

About our Host

Candice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at [email protected]. Thanks for spending your time with us.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

In this powerful episode of Living Transplant, host Candice Coghlan sits down with Sasha, a social worker at Toronto General Hospital, to discuss the vital intersection of mental health, addiction recovery, and organ transplantation. Sasha shares her journey into social work, her experience supporting patients in the Alcohol Liver Disease Program, and how stigma can affect those living with alcohol-related liver disease.

The conversation dives deep into the realities of recovery, relapse prevention, financial barriers, and the emotional toll of transplant life — for both patients and families. Sasha emphasizes compassion, honesty, and the importance of recognizing addiction as a health condition, not a moral failing. Together, Candice and Sasha explore the meaning of resilience, the need for peer and mental health support, and the small acts of kindness that make a lasting impact in healthcare.

Key Takeaways

• Addiction is a health condition and should be treated with empathy and understanding.
• Mental health support is just as critical as physical care in the transplant process.
• Family and caregivers play an essential role in a patient’s recovery journey.
• Financial challenges and access to mental health care remain major barriers for many patients.
• Peer support networks are transformative but still lacking for liver transplant patients.
• Honesty and emotional validation are key tools for social workers supporting transplant patients.
• It’s okay to not feel okay — emotional lows are part of the transplant journey.

Resources & Links

Learn more about Living Organ Donation

Learn more about Living Liver Donation

Learn more about Mental Health supports available

Centre for Living Organ Donation on Instagram

Ajmera Transplant Centre on Instagram

About the Podcast

Each episode of Living Transplant shares real stories from transplant recipients, living donors, and healthcare experts. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or simply curious about organ donation, you’ll hear honest conversations about resilience, hope, and the life-changing power of organ transplantation.

About the Host

Candice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre, a kidney transplant recipient, and a board member for the National Kidney Foundation.

Contact

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at [email protected]. Thanks for spending your time with us.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

In this deeply moving episode of The Living Transplant Podcast, host Candice Coghlan sits down with Mary, a liver transplant recipient whose story embodies courage, vulnerability, and self-advocacy.

Mary opens up about her struggles with addiction, mental health, and identity, sharing how her liver transplant became a turning point toward healing — both physically and emotionally. She discusses the often-overlooked connection between mental and physical health, the stigma surrounding addiction, and the life-changing power of receiving an accurate diagnosis after years of being misunderstood.

This honest and heartfelt conversation reminds us that healing doesn’t end with surgery — it continues with self-discovery, support, and breaking the silence around mental health.

Key Takeaways

• Mental and physical health are deeply interconnected — both deserve equal attention.
• Addiction and mental health struggles are health issues, not moral failings.
• Advocacy starts small: asking for help is an act of bravery, advocacy is crucial in navigating the healthcare system
• Receiving a transplant can awaken gratitude, but also complex emotions that deserve space and care.
• A proper diagnosis can completely change a person’s quality of life.
• Breaking the stigma around mental health begins with open, honest conversations.
• Community and compassion are powerful forces in recovery.
• Mental health challenges often go unseen and misunderstood.
• Organ donation is a life-changing gift that impacts families.
• Everyone struggles with something; it's important to talk about it.

Links and Resources

More information about living organ donation

More information about living liver transplantation

Centre for Living Organ Donation on Instagram

Ajmera Transplant Centre on Instagram

Canadian Mental Health Association

About Our Guest

Mary R. — Liver transplant recipient and mental health advocate.

Her story highlights resilience, hope, and the importance of treating the whole person, not just the body.

Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ Donation

Click here for more information about living organ donation.

Click here for more information about living kidney transplantation. 

Click here for more information about Polycystic Kidney Disease. 

Ajmera Transplant Centre on Instagram

Each episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.

About our Host

Candice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at [email protected]. Thanks for spending your time with us.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

In this inspiring episode, host Candice Coghlan speaks with Megan Owen-Evans, a rare double anonymous living organ donor. Megan has given both a kidney and part of her liver—gifts offered not to family or friends, but to complete strangers in need.

Together, they explore what motivates someone to step forward for such extraordinary acts of altruism, the recovery journey, and the myths and misconceptions around anonymous donation. Megan also shares how her experiences as a donor inspired her advocacy work, including pushing for paid leave for living donors through the Living Donor Circle of Excellence.

This conversation highlights not only the bravery of living donors but also the ripple effects their generosity creates in workplaces, families, and communities.

Episode Highlights

Megan’s journey from childhood experience to becoming a living donor

Discovering the option of anonymous kidney and liver donation

What recovery was really like after both surgeries

Misconceptions about living and anonymous donation—and how to address them

Writing letters to her recipients and the emotional connections that followed

How Megan helped shape workplace policy to remove financial barriers for donors

Why living donors see their gift as life-changing not just for recipients, but for themselves

Takeaways

Living donors undergo thorough medical and psychological screening to ensure safety.

Recovery from kidney and liver donation is often faster and easier than many assume.

Community support and employer recognition play a vital role in making donation possible.

Altruism can be a powerful force that reshapes not only individual lives but also public policy.

Every act of donation—whether blood, organs, or advocacy—creates ripples of hope.

Links and Resources

Click here for more information about the Living Donor Circle of Excellence

Click here to watch videos of living organ donors and recipients of living donation

Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ Donation

Click here for more information about living organ donation.

Click here for more information about living kidney transplantation. 

Click here for more information about living liver transplantation

Click here to watch videos of living organ donors and recipients of living donation

Centre for Living Organ Donation on Instagram

Ajmera Transplant Centre on Instagram

Each episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.

About our Host

Candice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at [email protected]. Thanks for spending your time with us.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

In this episode, Dr. Marsh explains the neuroscience of altruism, from the role of the amygdala to genetic influences on empathy. Through Dr. Marsh’s donor stories and research insights we explore the spectrum of altruism and psychopathy. She reveals how the amygdala, the brain region tied to emotional responses, plays a pivotal role in altruistic behavior. Remarkably, research shows that altruistic kidney donors often have larger amygdala sizes compared to the average person.

Dr. Marsh also reveals the genetic factors that shape empathy and altruistic tendencies, while challenging the misconception that altruism is irrational or abnormal. She contrasts the media’s frequent focus on negative aspects of human nature with the lived experiences of donors, who describe profound feelings of honor and fulfillment after giving the gift of life.

Throughout the conversation, personal stories from living organ donors underscore the importance of community support for both donors and recipients. Dr. Marsh emphasizes the power of education and awareness to dispel myths about donation and highlights that altruism is not only a natural human trait but also one that can be nurtured and encouraged in all of us.

Links and Resources

Dr. Marsh’s Website

Dr. Marsh’s TedTalk

The Fear Factor, by Dr. Marsh

Dr. Marsh LinkedIn

Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ Donation

Click here for more information about living organ donation.

Click here for more information about living kidney transplantation. 

Click here for more information about Polycystic Kidney Disease. 

Ajmera Transplant Centre on Instagram

Each episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.

About our Host

Candice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at [email protected]. Thanks for spending your time with us.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

 In this episode of the Living Transplant podcast, host Candice Coghlan is joined by Loi Nguyen; a father, outdoorsman, and all around very positive person. Loi is living with polycystic kidney disease. We discussed his journey from diagnosis to kidney modality options, to the call that came in that changed his life: that there was a living kidney donor ready to donate a kidney to him through the paired exchange program. 

We're later joined by Christine Bruce, the Senior Director of Laboratory Medicine at UHN. Not only is Christine the Director of the program, which is incredibly instrumental in all parts of transplant, but she is also an anonymous kidney donor. After reading an email we sent out about Living Donation Week, Christine made the decision that she would fill out her health history form and wait six months to see if she was still passionate about the opportunity to become a donor. And when she decided she was, her path to transplant was unique, as she went from a practitioner to a patient. Please enjoy.  

The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.

For more information about living organ donation, please visit www.livingorgandonation.ca

For more information about living kidney transplantation, please visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_kidney_donor.aspx

For more information about Polycystic Kidney Disease, please visit https://www.endpkd.ca/ 

Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at [email protected]. Thanks for spending your time with us.