Hello and welcome to the Get to Life podcast where we have conversations about organ tissue and eye donation and transplantation. You can always find us at thegiftedlife.org. I'm Roy Steele. I'm Joey Boudreau.
I'm Sarah Blake-Morn and coming up on The Get to Life today. We'll be talking to an amazing young woman from Canada who decided to anonymously donate her kidney. And we're going to talk about how to empower yourself by using the word no. No.
How was that? That's coming your way right here. The Get to Life. Here on The Get to Life podcast we have a new friend guys, Jamie Hitch.
Hey Jamie. Hey guys. How are you? Good.
Where are you calling from? I don't know how many people would know best Vancouver, but I love about 6 hours north from there. How cool. Yeah.
Outside of the US I just thought that was pretty interesting. How did you hear about The Get to Life because you reached out which we were like thrilled about. But how did this all happen? Yeah, I'm super into podcasts myself and of course organ donation and there's not a lot of podcasts about that.
So you guys were kind of one of the first Google searches which is great. I love kind of the way you style your podcast and it's not too controversial because I hate conflict. It was a great tip that I thought. I thought, reach out and here we are.
Okay. We like you already. You didn't have the butter us up. But our interests are your interests.
Like we're all in this together. And you're a living kidney donor, which is just amazing. So did you just decide when they like, I'll do it. Or tell us your story.
How did you even get there? So I've always found organ donation to be really interesting. I think it's crazy. You know, we have two kidneys, but we don't really need the second kidney, whereas someone who is obviously battling kidney disease, they have two kidneys, but it's just not good enough for them.
So I thought like, I just thought that was so interesting. The science part that we literally just live a normal life. So the SARS kind of aligned. One good thing about COVID was I had not as much to do work-wise.
So I just kind of like, this is never going to probably hopefully never happen again. I usually really like to travel and all that, which is what it worked with donating, just because there's so many tests and everything. So last June, I just emailed the donor program in Vancouver, the closest one from me. And I was just like, how do you basically get started?
Like where's the information? And they were super great. And basically I just read through a lot of reading material. And I was like, yeah, that sounds pretty good to me.
Like, you know, you're odd to say getting disease or what have you. They don't go up very much. And at the end of the day, everything like the lifestyle changes, all of that, they weren't extremely anything. So I figured, OK, I'm still super interested in doing it.
And then I just started the process basically June 2020. And then I donated in April. I love your accent. I know I like it.
I feel like I'm listening to me on the other side. We sound cajun. So so my kin folks from way back in the day came from Canada as well. But the opposite side, cajun, a few episodes back.
So episode 62, we did a special on Canada, a donation in Canada. And we talked about the David Foster Foundation. And we spoke to a lung surgeon. And we talked about a lot of the contrast and comparisons of of the systems here compared in the United States, compared to the system in Canada.
And of course, we really spoke more on the lung side and how, you know, for them, in general, the Oregon State, within one province and never really moved over from one area to another. Unless, unless, you know, obviously that if there was a viable candidate and Oregon, somewhere else, they tried to match it up, but it was a little different. So I'm wondering with you, so especially with kidneys. So how does that work with you?
Did you have to match up with a particular recipient or did you? Did you say, okay, this is my date and then it goes into a pool for the sickest patient or how's that work there? OK, so basically for mine, so I'm anonymous. I don't know who got the kidney or anything.
But one of my things that I did want to do is if I was to donate, I wanted to make the most impact and that through doing the donor chain. So basically the first option was I could have just donated to someone in BC. They would have just gone off their list and basically said, like, this is a surgery date for both of you and the doctors work together or option B was they went through all of Canada and then we started the chain that way. And because I came from six hours from Vancouver, I really need everything to just go smoothly.
So I was the start of the chain. I felt really selfish saying that, but I was like, I can't, you know, put all this into motion and then all it takes is the person in front of me, something goes sideways with them and then my whole surgery date is up in the air, right? So I was the first of the chain. So I thankfully had no scheduling issues, but my kidney was taken out in Vancouver and they flew it to Quebec and that's where the recipient is.
And they kind of just kept going with that with the chain. So if it wasn't for COVID, I would have had to fly personally to Quebec and to be surgery and everything there. Thanks. So I didn't because they obviously have their first language of friends.
So that could have just been confusing and a long time on a plane given everything. But yeah, so my kidney was taken out in British Columbia and it did the long flight to Quebec. That's amazing. So the chain that she's talking about, so we have one similar here.
And that's really taken off just in the last few years. So, so historically, if you wanted to donate, in general, you had to have most people obviously donate to someone they know, you know, and and kudos to you. How amazing it is of you to be so altruistic. It's incredibly altruistic to donate to someone they know much less anonymously.
Right. I was just in COVID thinking, like, maybe I should organize my house. Like I was on that level, Jamie. And then here you come in and I'm like, man, I need to really rethink.
I just didn't do enough. So, so the chain piece, you know, is similar to our kidney pair donation. That's what we call it here. And and what we do is if there's someone, you know, of course, that wants to donate to a loved one, but they're not a match.
They get put on this chain and they get tied in usually six or eight different people involved in the chain. And one goes to one, then that person goes to another, then that person goes to another and it all ties into where everyone's able to donate and everyone receives a life. It maxes out like how many people, like, especially the ones waiting in need, like everyone can help just maybe not directly. Right.
So it helps as many people as possible. That's amazing. And for you to learn a little bit more, we actually did an episode on what Joey was going into, living donor chain episode 127, so the gift of life.org. You can go and follow up on that.
Yeah. So I have a question and you don't have to answer, but just Joey literally took the words altruism just out of my mouth. So let me ask, how old are you? Because this you just sound so young or you, Jen, or how younger you?
Because I'm 26. I'll be 27 in February. I mean, so I want to know, hearing that, what did your family think when you shared with them that you wanted to give this gift? What was their reaction?
They weren't really surprised at all. I've been called the big kidney foundation for quite a few years, like doing the kidney walks and the fundraising stuff. So they want that surprise. And maybe that's just how I am all the time.
They definitely got like it was crazy. Like my mom was like, Oh my God, that's so crazy. Like what if you need it one day? And I was like, honestly, then I'll go on the list myself or, you know, everyone is going to die.
So we'll just see what happens in hopefully quite a few years. But no one was incredibly shocked or anything. My husband was like, this is a very you like thing to do. Just like pick up something you really are interested in and like, don't just donate, you know, money or do a lot like how do we do the very most?
Okay. You can teach all of us and so many more. Wow. Wow.
And so I know that being married, like I would say, it's going to cost. And what's the hospital state is the insurance cover. What's the recovery? So can you walk us through some of those big issues that I'm sure you guys were faced with?
So thankfully in Canada, we have free medical care. I was actually born in the space and I lived there a couple of years went to college. So the Canadian medical care, as I get older, is something that I am like, wow, we are so so lucky to have a great care. And it doesn't matter what you need, you can go in and there's no insurance or anything needed.
So that's obviously a huge relief when it comes to something like this. But basically I had no out of pocket expenses. Obviously the doctors, all of that just kind. I did have to go to Vancouver twice, once in December to do the donor assessment there at their hospital.
And the Kinney Foundation, they worked together with the donors and basically reimbursed me for my hotel and my mileage to get there. They gave me some sort of food reimbursement, but honestly, I didn't care. I was just happy to get out of the house. This is obviously great.
Wow, this is the closest thing to a vacation. And then after the surgery, they did the same thing, the hotel and they even paid for my husband to come down during the surgery. And then they do, I don't know exactly how many weeks, but they do reimburse you for work loss. If you can't go back to work right away, thankfully, I worked from home and I didn't take into time off for anything.
We run in like a super high peak, I do it with COVID and everything, but all I need is my phone to answer. So I really don't, I can't justify taking time off. So, but we are very lucky to have like the foundation and everything where basically nothing is out of pocket, which is nice. Now, I know you mentioned that you gave anonymously to your recipient.
Is there any way that that changes in the future with in terms of meeting or reaching out? Yeah, so I can, I think next April on the one year anniversary, I can write a letter to them and mail it to the donor program. And if they do the same or at any time, do the same, then we can know who each other are and have that talk or whatever we want to do. So, yeah, just the time basically and see, you know, if I do it and they do it, right?
I'm like, my left, they'll be completely friends. We'll be on like the Google trampoline. Would you do it again? Like if you can't, I would, I mean, I can't.
But it was such a good experience for you. Yeah, there was nothing wrong. Yeah, we had an instance where someone was thinking about it. I heard a podcast and kind of went through with it.
So I was just thinking if there's that perfect storm and there's somebody listening and they just need to hear your story, what words of encouragement or what would you say to someone in that position? Honestly, for me and everyone is different and change can be scary, but it just like, it felt like such a positive thing to do. And honestly, when I woke up from the surgery, I was like, so did they take it? Can they like, they're okay?
What is like, I didn't know if they even had taken it or done the first date? They did. And it was just like, honestly, if I could do it again, I wouldn't heartbeat. Like it really was, it was such a big thing for the person to receive.
But it really wasn't like this huge change or that much work or anything for me. Like a lot of things, if the most mild inconvenience could come up and I'd like, it's just not meant to be. But I had to, you know, drive six hours to get there. I had to do all these appointments and honestly, it was completely worth it.
So if you're like, oh, that little glimmer of maybe I should do this, you could probably just like just keep checking it out. You sound like you're glowing like, you know, you're so like, I'm smiling, listening to all of your words with that, which is so amazing. Now, were you a registered organ donor going into it? Yeah, I was.
So with the Kinney Foundation, with the walks and everything, that's one thing that's like the extra push. So I was all signed up for that. I'm also signed up in the US for so I'm really just something at this point. But yes, I'm still signed up for that.
And, you know, hopefully when that time comes, everything is usable. I would love to just, that's like a one last push, right? To help one last time. Now you've mentioned that you went on the Kinney box and worked at the Kinney Foundation.
Where did you like, what was the first time you learned about that? And what really was that moment where like teacher interest so much so that you got involved? You're in, yeah. I remember, I don't know like the exact date, but I do remember in high school, like learning about the Kinney disease and Kinney transplants and all that.
And I just fascinated and then I came back from Florida in 2016. And I thought it was like this little ad like, oh, health, your community or whatever. And I was like, that sounds interesting. And I really wanted, I don't know what happened, but something just clicked where I just really wanted to help and do more than just like the day to day.
Oh, here's whatever when someone asked for money or whatever. I just really wanted to like go on this, like helping kind of tour all the way. I was just helping all the time. And I just thought and I think this is so cool.
Like the whole community, they came together and there was people who had donated and they talked about it. And again, they're just so happy to have donated. And it was like a really good positive energy. And I just kept going back here after year, helping organize it and fundraise.
And we're a pretty small town. And as far as fundraising went, we were up there with the big cities, like Vancouver and all those areas. And I was like, it doesn't really matter where you come from. Like we have just as much impact.
And I just thought that was really cool. And then I want to say 2020, so in the pandemic and everything hit, the Walklet Virtual, and that was just like, obviously it had to happen. But it is, you really do need those people out there promoting and fundraising. It's just not the same virtually.
I don't think. Yeah, I agree. And education is key. So I love to hear you say that.
And then here, most of our folks will sign up when they're getting their drivers license. So what's like the main place to sign up where you are and how do people do that? Yeah. So I think that's like something that's probably not the best is I don't think I've ever signed up while like at the driver's license, which is just seems like a missed opportunity, right?
Cannot really see any of those signs. There could be, but obviously I don't probably have the best energy or hope when they're going into the driver's license. But it's just really through the kidneys, the kidney walk there. They have the pamphlet and just really hitting home on why organ donation is so important.
And then I'm pretty sure you can just go online as like, even if you just typed in organ donation and then your product and you can sign up online that way. It was super seamless, but we are really missing that like key aspect of it. So they mean fundraising important, education is important. But at the end of the day, there's really only one, you know, big treatment, right?
So I am so excited to see you at the next in person, like kidney walk run. Like is it switching from virtual to in person, you think coming up short? I'm really hoping so. And you're not like 100% back to normal.
Yeah. But we are still, you know, we're more back normal than we have been. So usually it's in the spring, we've done it in September before as well. So you would think by, especially September, you should be able to go back out.
Oh, good. So if anybody's thinking about it or hesitant just about donation in general or living donation, what's your message today? Oh, if you're hesitant about it or unsure, I think just research it more and really understand it. I know that there's people, maybe who are hesitant who I've talked to and a lot of it, there's a lot of like, missed some of surrounding it or not enough understanding.
I think if you really understand it, you'll have to be more likely to be interested in it. Of course, if you still are 100% understanding of it and you still don't want anything to do with it, by all means, that's your choice. Right. But I think you can never go wrong with like learning more about something.
So Jamie, you touch upon a couple of things. One, you know, the fact that Canada's got such a wonderful plan that free health care. And we all, we're all very jealous over here that have high premiums and insurance costs and everything else. But just to reiterate for those listeners out there, it is there is no cost here as well in the United States to donate kidney.
That's picked up the majority of kidney costs. And I know we've talked about that in other episodes, but the majority of costs associated with kidney disease are picked up by Sinus, for Medicare, Medicaid services or CMS, Medicare, Medicaid funding, and which is mostly public funding. So the other thing that you mentioned about, you know, or you talked about if there was a chance you may need later on here in the United States, one of the recent changes that you know, United Network of Organ sharing has has made one of the policy changes in the last couple of years has been that if you donate a kidney as a living donor, you automatically, if something would come up later on in life, and you would need a kidney at that point, you automatically get bumped to the top of the list. So so I'm not sure Jamie, if that's the way it is yet there, but I would assume, you know, because again, a lot of the things that we do here, I see, you know, following very closely after in Canada, that that's going to be how it's going to take place over the next few years.
Yeah, I think the doctors and surgeons mentioned something like that. I don't think there's like a very sudden stone yet, but I do know if you obviously had donated previously, they're going to help you out, right? You'll get health and reassurance and all that later on. All right.
Well, if you live near Jamie, that little ray of sunshine in Canada, you can go to transplant.bc.ca is an easy process, right? To sign up to be a donor there? Yeah, super simple. Just go to that website and then your personal health number, put that in and you're good to go.
You're there. And then here you can register anytime as an organ tissue and eye donor at register me.org. Jamie, I know you inspired people inspired me to do just better things and to think big and make a positive impact. It was so great to talk to you today.
Perfect. Thanks guys for having me. I really enjoyed it. You're on the get-to-like.
We take a moment for mental health. We'll be learning about something that my daughter already knows about. What is it? The power of using no.
No. She's right at that age where no is very popular for sure. We've talked about this before, but I kind of wanted to talk about like some methods. So when I say no, I'm saying when somebody asks you something, they want something of you.
Some, you know, we feel very inclined to say yes. Try to help in some way. Yes. Society tells us and teaches us when we're young that saying those impolite.
Even with kids, I'm sure your daughter tells you know, and you say you're being real. When you're older. Yes. Yes.
But saying no is just a clear way for us to set boundaries for ourselves. So I kind of wanted to talk about how important it is and how powerful it can be for you. Knowing that we're being taught that it's impolite, also know that it can be very empowering and very liberating to be able to use the word no and to think of yourself a little bit, especially with your boundaries. So know that brings power to you and what are some ways we can do it.
So if you're uncomfortable telling people no, there's a thing called the sandwich method where you say a positive, you say your no, and then you say something positive. So if somebody invites you to lunch, oh, I would really, you know, I would love to see you. I haven't seen you in a long time. I'm unable to come to lunch that day, but I can't wait to meet you later or to set up another day.
So try the sandwich method. It makes you feel a little bit more comfortable giving, you know, positive. Yeah. I always feel like I have to give an excuse like, no, because, you know, well, this one has football and this one has to be in there.
But if it was another day, then I could like, I'm always like anxious, like, I'm saying, no, but, but, but, but that's a lot. Right. And I think, you know, just shift away from giving an excuse to giving something positive. Like if you're saying no, because you have other things, you don't have to tell them that, but you could be like, I don't like to say you really need to go in quite so much detail.
Right. But I felt bad saying that. Right. Yeah.
But you could also say, like, I can't wait to see you soon or to celebrate with you soon or, you know, you can end it on a positive note. That's not an excuse to wait or really set some healthy boundaries. So if we're thinking about like, even social media saying no, might be not accepting someone's friend request. If you don't want to see their drama.
Yes. I'll say, for you. Yes. Yes.
Yeah. Are you can unfollow people that don't bring positivity to you that make you feel like that reflect negatively on your self-worth. If you are constantly following somebody who's making you doubt yourself or make you feel worthless, unfollow, that's an easy way to say no to having somebody in your life and influencing you. I like some of my friends too on social media because I find their voice.
It's like, if you send me a friend request or if you send me a game app or something like that, I will say no to all. No special treatment. I'm just going to say no and I just want to let you know ahead of time so that you don't get your feelings. It's such a balance.
Right. And it's like, well, that's one way to do it. OK. Well, and you know, I think just recognizing and reflecting on why you're saying no, what is this goal that you're setting?
Is it you want to create more of a work-life balance? You have to say no to a meeting that's at 8 p.m. at night outside of office hours or if your goal is to increase your confidence saying no to people on social media who aren't going to bring that to you. Always reflect on why you're saying no and it's going to be a lot more comfortable to do it and you'll be more empowered.
You don't need to explain yourself. Yeah. Just say no. Sometimes it's good to just be with yourself.
I like that. You ready to close? Or is that a no? Oh.
No. You have a topic you'd like to cover, email us info at thegiftedlife.org. All right. It's time for our question and answer segment.
Here's our question. Are the same organ donation laws in the US followed everywhere else? Joey. And as you said earlier, the power of using no, the answer is no.
No. So as I mentioned earlier, you can go back in this episode 62. We talked about donation in Canada, donation in Transplant in Canada. There, it's not a nationwide system.
It's more along the province lines and then and then it's kind of a little more like we did quite some time back where if it didn't fit in one, you know, if you didn't have a perfect match in one province, then they would cross and ask. Right. You know, so there's a lot of differences there. And in Europe, for example, there are quite a bit of countries that use the opt out method for registration.
So, so if you so everyone is assumed to be an organ donor, unless you actually take yourself out of the registry. So I know that's big and spanking, but others have adopted that similar type thing. And then we've talked to others in different countries who are pretty much just starting to cultivate their donation and transplant. They're way behind us, you know, as far as, you know, where we stand in allocation policies and things like that.
So they're learning a lot from us in different parts of the world. So it's very different. I would suggest you do a Google search for your own at your own, you know, to see what your own countries policies are. It shouldn't be very difficult to find out.
Oh, we got that from a lot of our guests. Googledger friend research, ask questions, ask from those around Jeff. All right. Maybe you have a question for us.
You can always give us a call 5046483477. In every episode of the gifted life, we honor a hero. Today's hero is Josh Hicks. And we learn about Josh from his family.
Josh died at the age of 14. He was a loving boy with a ready smile, always ready to help anyone if they needed him. He left to hunt and he loved to fish. It is comforting to know that even though we lost him too soon, he lives on in the lives of others.
This thought has helped us get through some of the grief. And now we pause and say thank you to Josh for the gift of life. And that is episode 176 of the gifted life guys. Thanks for listening.
And remember, you can always register as an organ, I and tissue donor anytime. Register me that work. Very special thanks to Jamie Hidge, not only for coming on and sharing her story, but for being such a wonderful person. She said, she's 26 years old.
I'm, you know, I can't imagine when I was that age. I know that's closer to Sarah's age that she can really love it better. But being that age and being able to see beyond yourself just as she does. And so I want to make the greatest positive impact.
Yeah. So amazing. All right. Thanks to Jamie.
And also tell your friends about this podcast and others, the best place to find us is on our website, thegiftedlife.org. That's where they can find this episode and many others. You can listen on any platform that you listen to your podcast, whether it's iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple. If you do listen on Apple, go ahead and give us a five star rating review us and subscribe so that others can find us on social guys.
Our Facebook is the get to life podcast. You can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram at giftedlife pod or ask us that you share this podcast, you share the information that you learn and you go out and do something you would normally do to help us make life happen. This is a production of LOPA, or the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency. The get to life is hosted by Lori Steele, Joey Boudreau and Sarah Blakemore.
Our executive producer is Kirsten Hinds, producer is Shalom Caraway. Intern is Rebecca Rannam and we are recorded, engineered and mixed in our Covington, Louisiana Studio by Troy Perez.