In Canada, Debbie Onishenko, a 62-year-old woman, suffered from kidney problems due to her diabetes, which she has suffered from since she was 13 years old. Over the years, this chronic disease has damaged his kidneys, which only function at 9%. In 2022, the doctors reveal to her that dialysis is no longer effective in treating her and that she needs a transplant. Problem: the waiting list to receive a kidney donation in Saskatchewan, the province where she lives, is long.
Kidney donation: a call for help written on his car
Shortly following her announcement, the patient decided to take matters into her own hands. She has the idea of launching a call for help by writing on the rear window of her red car: “need a type O kidney. Give the one you have in reserve” and adds her telephone number. This announcement allowed her to be contacted by media who relayed her story and her request, according to Radio-Canada.
After this media coverage, several Canadians called Debbie Onishenko to help her. But it was a call received in August that was able to save her. “Roses are red, violets are blue, I have a kidney and I will give it to you”, said Brent Kruger on the other end of the line. The latter has the same blood group as the sexagenarian. “It was the greatest miracle in the world”, said the diabetic. To ensure that the donor was compatible with her, he had to carry out medical examinations.
She wants “people to realize that they can help others when they are alive”
Now both patients are waiting to undergo surgery to prepare them for the kidney transplant. They hope that the operation will take place at the end of the month or in March. Their first meeting took place at Saint Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon. “My biggest wish is for people to realize that they can help others when they are alive. You can sign up to be on the donor list when you are dead, but there are a lot of things you can do even when you’re alive”said Debbie Onishenko, who plans to leave the message on her car until she returns home following surgery.
