‘they Call Me A Fighter’: Strathmore Family Waits For 6-organ Transplant

A Strathmore, Alta., family is hoping for a Christmas miracle, pinch their 24-year-old girl astatine nan apical of Canada’s database for a six-organ transplant.

Maggie Kosterewa was studying to activity successful wellness attraction erstwhile she became sick respective years ago. Her family said her gallstone-induced pancreatitis was initially misdiagnosed, creating complications that landed her successful infirmary for months astatine a time, including for galore surgeries to region various organs.

A bid of infections near nan uncommon six-organ transplant arsenic nan only action to prevention Maggie’s life; nan young female officially joined nan transplant database this spring. She’s been told she has a 50/50 chance of endurance should a philanthropist travel through.

“I don’t cognize if I’ve afloat processed it and I person dealt pinch truthful overmuch wellness stuff… I conjecture successful my caput I effort not to get my hopes up pinch everything,” said Kosterewa.

The ordeal has already near nan family successful financial turmoil. Maggie’s mom, Jennifer Therriault, had to time off her occupation to supply full-time attraction for her daughter. Their transplant coordination squad has suggested nan family raise complete $50,000 for nan six months pursuing nan transplant, during which clip Maggie and her mother request to relocate to Edmonton.

Therriault said she would’ve lived life otherwise if she knew a aesculapian emergency was astir nan corner. “If I could person known to hole for this — you cognize what I mean?” she said.

“It’s a life lesson. You mightiness make different choices if you knew you (had) to travel up pinch $50,000.”

The ordeal besides prompted others successful nan family to beryllium screened for gallstones, which are hereditary. That’s erstwhile doctors discovered Maggie’s younger sister Olivia had a tumour on her spine. The sisters had back-to-back to surgeries a week isolated this past June. Olivia’s information is continuing to beryllium monitored.

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The province’s organ and insubstantial aid service, Give Life Alberta, reported a grounds number of donations past year, pinch 317 donations made successful 2024. According to Alberta Health Services, it’s estimated much than 500 group are waiting for transplants successful Alberta alone.

Just 1 to 2 per cent of group are eligible arsenic imaginable organ donors astatine nan clip of their deaths, according to AHS. In Alberta, dozens of group dice each twelvemonth while waiting for a transplant.

The family is still processing nan thought that a mislaid life could prevention Maggie’s.

“We woody pinch nan nonaccomplishment of a loved 1 to prevention a loved one. It’s a unusual experience. I can’t moreover describe,” said Therriault.

A friend of nan family has started a GoFundMe campaign to thief raise support. Tax reciepts are besides offered by donating done nan family’s church. E-transfers tin beryllium sent to knoxbassano100@gmail.com.

— pinch files from Isabella Finn