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Sonia went into the hospital expecting to have her heart valve replaced. She planned to return to her teaching job just two weeks later. But when her heart could no longer keep up after surgery, what began as a routine procedure quickly became a fight for her life. Within months, Sonia was facing heart failure, failing lungs, and the need for a heart and double lung transplant.
In this episode, Candice sits down with Sonia to explore her extraordinary journey through months in hospital, the uncertainty of waiting for a life-saving transplant, and the emotional toll of facing a future she never imagined. Sonia shares what it was like to learn that she needed not one, but three new organs, and how she grappled with fear, grief, and the possibility that she might not survive.
As the months in hospital passed, Sonia began to find ways to reconnect with herself. Through sewing, crafting, decorating her hospital room, and creating moments of comfort, she found ways to hold on to her identity beyond being a patient. With the support of her family, friends, healthcare team, and an incredible hospital wedding, Sonia discovered what kept her fighting: love, connection, and the determination to live the years her mother and sister never had the chance to experience.
Sonia also speaks candidly about life after transplant, including the trauma that can linger long after surgery, the nightmares and emotional challenges of recovery, and the difficulty of finding a community of people who truly understand what she has experienced. As a patient advocate, her journey has deepened her belief that support, connection, and being heard are essential parts of healing.
This is a conversation about more than survival. It is about rebuilding an identity when illness takes so much away, learning to live with the lasting effects of medical trauma, and finding hope even when the future feels uncertain. Sonia reminds us that while we cannot always control what happens to us, we can find meaning in the people we love, the experiences we share, and the chapters still waiting to be written.
Links and Resources
Click here for more information about living organ donation.
Click here for more information about living kidney donation
Click here for more information about living liver donation
Click here for information Sessions for potential donors
Click here to learn more about the Kidney Foundation’s Peer Support Program
Click here for mental health support from Canadian Mental Health Association
Connect with the Podcast or Learn More About Organ Donation
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 National Board Member for the Kidney Foundation of Canada 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.
At 27, Layla discovered they had been living with only one functioning kidney. After their kidney function rapidly declined, they found themselves navigating kidney failure, dialysis, and a life that looked very different from the one they had imagined. But their journey would lead to a life-changing gift: a kidney transplant from their mother, who travelled all the way from Iran to donate.
In this episode, Candice sits down with Layla to explore their journey from diagnosis to transplantation, including the emotional challenges of living with kidney disease as a young adult. Layla shares what it was like to move from Iran to Canada, discover their kidney condition, and adjust to the realities of dialysis while trying to maintain a sense of independence and connection with friends.
Together, Layla and Candice reflect on the importance of peer support, the spoon theory and the challenges of accepting help. Layla opens up about the complicated emotions surrounding their mother’s decision to donate, including the fear of putting her through surgery and the guilt of accepting such an extraordinary gift. Through therapy and reflection, Layla began to understand the transplant as an opportunity for healing, love, and connection.
Layla also shares how life changed after transplant, from the freedom to travel and enjoy everyday moments to the deeper meaning of calling the transplanted kidney “our kidney.” Whether you are navigating kidney disease, considering living donation, or supporting someone through transplantation, this conversation is a powerful reminder that hope can be found in connection, accepting help, and learning to embrace the love that others offer.
In This Episode
Links
Click here for more information about living organ donation.
Click here for more information about living kidney donation
Click here for more information about living liver donation
Click here for information Sessions for potential donors
Click here to learn more about the Kidney Foundation’s Peer Support Program
Connect with the Podcast or Learn More About Organ Donation
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 National Board Member for the Kidney Foundation of Canada 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 special episode, Candice sits down with Tyler, a double living organ donor whose journey began with donating blood and eventually led him to donate both a portion of his liver and a kidney. Tyler first became interested in living donation after years of donating blood and wondering about the direct impact his donations could have. He decided to anonymously donate part of his liver to someone he had never met, ultimately becoming a living liver donor at UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre. But his story didn’t end with one donation. Tyler decided to pursue anonymous kidney donation as well.
Then, an extraordinary series of connections changed everything. Years earlier, Tyler had met a couple while on vacation. Through a series of remarkable coincidences, he later discovered that they were connected to people in his own family—and eventually learned that the woman he had met was experiencing kidney failure and needed a transplant. Tyler had already begun the process of becoming an anonymous kidney donor. He wondered whether his donation could instead be directed to her. After going through the necessary testing, they discovered they were a match.
Together, Tyler and Candice talk about the emotional experience of anonymous donation, family concerns, recovery from two very different surgeries, and what it means to see the impact of a donation unfold over time. Tyler also reflects on the idea that one donation can affect far more than a single recipient—from a recipient’s spouse and children to the people waiting behind them on the transplant list. Whether you are considering living donation, have been touched by transplantation, or simply want to hear a remarkable story about generosity and human connection, this conversation is a powerful reminder that one decision can change far more lives than we may ever see.
In This Episode
● How Tyler’s journey into living donation began with blood donation
● Why he decided to anonymously donate part of his liver to a stranger
● How Tyler and his family navigated the fear and uncertainty surrounding donation
● Why Tyler decided to pursue a second donation—a kidney
● The incredible series of coincidences that connected Tyler with his kidney recipient
● The difference between recovering from liver and kidney donation
● The ripple effect of living donation and how one donation can impact an entire family
● What Tyler wishes more people understood about living donation
● Why he believes one decision can have a much greater impact than we may ever see
Links
Click here for more information about living organ donation.
Click here for more information about living kidney donation
Click here for more information about living liver donation
Click here for information Sessions for potential donors
Katie’s story: https://youtu.be/f6lIYM9fiCU?si=q7eE3_VCCGhha-Qx
Yorkville Run / Team Transplant: https://bit.ly/teamtransplant26
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 National Board Member for the Kidney Foundation of Canada 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].
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 special episode, Candice sits down with Kevin Gosling, the first person in Canada to anonymously donate part of his liver to a stranger, made possible at UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre. More than 20 years later, his decision continues to shape the future of living organ donation.
Kevin shares how a simple question—What about people who don't have someone to donate for them?—led him on a journey that challenged medical norms, changed hospital policies, and ultimately created what many now call "The Gosling Effect."
Together, they discuss the barriers he faced, the emotional moments that stayed with him, the ripple effect of one selfless act, and why he believes ordinary people are capable of extraordinary generosity.
Whether you're curious about living donation, have been touched by transplantation, or simply need a reminder of the good that exists in the world, this conversation is one you won't forget.
In This Episode
Links
Learn more about living organ donation: www.livingorgandonation.ca
Living Organ Donation at UHN: UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre
Information Sessions for potential donors: givelifeuhn.eventbrite.ca
Becoming a living donor: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Pages/become_living_donor.aspx
Liver Canada: Transforming the future of liver health | Liver Canada
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
Growing up with kidney disease and dialysisNavigating childhood and high school while feeling "different"Receiving a first kidney transplant as a child that lasted nearly 24 yearsLife after transplant and managing lifelong medicationsWhy transplant is not a cureFinding belonging through dragon boating and the Transplant GamesThe importance of peer support and patient communitiesAdvice for newly diagnosed kidney patientsUnderstanding the Kidney Paired Donation ProgramThe generosity of living organ donorsHope for the future of transplantation and medical innovationGratitude for healthcare teams and transplant nursesLiving Organ Donation at UHN: UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre
Information Sessions for potential donors: givelifeuhn.eventbrite.ca
Becoming a living donor: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Pages/become_living_donor.aspx
Kidney Foundation of Canada: https://kidney.ca/
Kidney Paired Donation Program: https://blood.ca/en/organs-tissues/living-donation/kidney-paired-donation-program
Canadian Transplant Association and the Canadian Transplant Games:
https://www.canadiantransplant.com
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.
What actually makes someone a “match” for organ transplant? And how close are we to a future where transplant compatibility becomes even more personalized?
In this episode of Living Transplant Podcast, host Candice sits down with Jeff Kiernan from UHN’s HLA Lab to explore the hidden world of transplant immunology — the science that helps determine donor compatibility, monitor antibodies, and support long-term transplant success.
Jeff breaks down what HLA is, why the idea of a “perfect match” is often misunderstood in solid organ transplant, and how new innovations are helping highly sensitized patients access life-saving organs. From molecular matching and immune response prediction to the future of organ preservation and personalized transplant care, this conversation offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the science shaping the future of transplantation.
Candice also reflects on her own experience as a kidney transplant recipient and what it means to live with the realities of sensitization, second transplants, and long-term graft survival.
Whether you’re a transplant recipient, donor, healthcare professional, or simply curious about the incredible science happening behind the scenes, this episode shines a light on the people and technology working every day to help patients live longer, healthier lives.
How UHN’s Transplant Immunology Lab matches patients with donor organs, stem cells: https://www.uhn.ca/corporate/News/Pages/uhn-transplant-immunology-lab-hla-matching.aspx
Learn more about living organ donation: www.livingorgandonation.ca
Living Organ Donation at UHN: UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre
Information Sessions for potential donors: givelifeuhn.eventbrite.ca
Becoming a living donor: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Pages/become_living_donor.aspx
CBS Highly Sensitized Patient Program: https://professionaleducation.blood.ca/en/organs-and-tissues/programs/highly-sensitized-patient-hsp-program
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.
Discover Maigen’s powerful story of becoming a living liver donor during the uncertainty of COVID-19—and how one spontaneous “why not?” turned into a life-saving decision.
In this episode of Living Transplant, Maigen shares how a lighthearted comment between family became the beginning of an extraordinary journey. Rooted in love, resilience, and a deep sense of care for others, her story highlights the emotional and physical realities of living donation, the strength of family bonds, and the perspective shift that comes with giving a part of yourself to save a life.
From navigating the transplant process during a global pandemic to redefining her relationship with her body and her future, Maigen offers an honest and inspiring look at what it truly means to be a living donor.
In this episode, we explore:
Links
Learn more about living organ donation: www.livingorgandonation.ca
Living Liver Donation at UHN: UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre
Information Sessions for potential donors: givelifeuhn.eventbrite.ca
Becoming a living donor: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Pages/become_living_donor.aspx
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, Fadia shares her deeply personal journey through kidney disease, receiving a living donor transplant from her sister, and now navigating a return to dialysis. With honesty and vulnerability, she reflects on the evolution of her mindset—from a “go, go, go” approach to one rooted in acceptance, rest, and self-compassion.
Fadia opens up about the realities of invisible illness, balancing motherhood and a demanding career in education, and the emotional complexity of asking for and receiving help. She also speaks to the power of community through the ACB Organ Health Committee, and how advocacy, culturally safe care, and representation are critical in improving outcomes for Black patients.
This episode is a reminder that transplant is not a cure, but part of a lifelong journey. Fadia’s story encourages listeners to slow down, speak up, and redefine what strength truly looks like.
Learn more about living organ donation: www.livingorgandonation.ca
Living Kidney & Liver Donation at UHN: UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre
Information Sessions for potential donors: givelifeuhn.eventbrite.ca
Becoming a living donor: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Pages/become_living_donor.aspx
ACB Organ Health Committee & Green Table Talk: https://www.youtube.com/@acborganhealth
Black Health Alliance: https://blackhealthalliance.ca
Kidney Foundation of Canada – Living Donation https://kidney.ca/Get-Involved/Be-a-Living-Donor
Trillium Gift of Life Network – Organ Donation in Ontario
https://www.giftoflife.on.ca
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.
What happens after transplant—when the surgery is over and real life begins?
In this episode of Living Transplant, we’re joined by Eugenia Chan, a pharmacist from the Transplant Outpatient Pharmacy (TOP) at UHN, to explore the critical (and often unseen) role pharmacy teams play in a patient’s lifelong transplant journey.
Unlike a typical pharmacy, TOP is fully integrated into the transplant program—supporting over 5,000 patients each year from the moment they leave the hospital and throughout their lives. From medication management to financial navigation, this team is a constant, trusted connection for patients.
Together, we unpack how this specialized care improves outcomes, reduces complications, and helps patients feel less alone in what can be an overwhelming experience.
In This Episode, We Cover:
Links and Resources
Learn more about the UHN Transplant Outpatient Pharmacy (TOP): https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/TOP
Learn more about living organ donation: www.livingorgandonation.ca
Living Kidney & Liver Donation at UHN: UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre
Information Sessions for potential donors: givelifeuhn.eventbrite.ca
Becoming a living donor: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Pages/become_living_donor.aspx
Kidney Foundation of Canada – Living Donation https://kidney.ca/Get-Involved/Be-a-Living-Donor
Trillium Gift of Life Network – Organ Donation in Ontario
https://www.giftoflife.on.ca
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.
Emma didn’t see herself as brave — she simply saw a problem and knew she could help.
At 79 years old, Emma became a living kidney donor for her husband after he began dialysis. But the path to donation wasn’t straightforward. After initially being turned away during her first evaluation due to concerns about blood sugar levels, Emma refused to give up. She advocated for herself, gathered medical evidence from her family doctor, and wrote a heartfelt letter asking for a second chance to be assessed.
That persistence led her to the Toronto General Hospital Living Donor Program, where she was ultimately approved to donate.
In this episode, Emma shares the deeply personal journey of advocating for herself, navigating the evaluation process, and donating a kidney to the person she has spent her life with. She reflects on why she never felt fear about the surgery, how dialysis affected their lives together, and why she believes more people should consider living donation — regardless of age.
Now recovering just weeks after surgery, Emma is already looking ahead to what matters most: more time together, traveling again, and enjoying the life they’ve built side by side.
Her message is simple but powerful: if you are healthy and willing to help, one kidney can change someone’s life.
Links and Resources
Learn more about living organ donation: www.livingorgandonation.ca
Living Kidney & Liver Donation at UHN: UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre
Information Sessions for potential donors: givelifeuhn.eventbrite.ca
Becoming a living donor: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Pages/become_living_donor.aspx
Kidney Foundation of Canada – Living Donation https://kidney.ca/Get-Involved/Be-a-Living-Donor
Trillium Gift of Life Network – Organ Donation in Ontario
https://www.giftoflife.on.ca
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.
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