The Sarnia Organ Donor Awareness Group (SODA) has always been known for its dedication to educating and promoting awareness of the need for organ and tissue donation. They are also known for their work in providing emotional and financial support to donor famlies and those awaiting and post transplant.
Now the non-profit is trying a new initiative called Donor Family Packages.
The group was inspired by a package Sarnia mom Kristin Luckins received from the hospital after her daughter, Ella Crossett gave the gift of five organs after passing away suddenly in July 2022.
“The hospital gave her some things. They gave her a pair of slippers and a journal. I think they gave her some restaurant gift cards, just some things to give her some comfort in those early stages of grief,” says Sue Morrison-Weir, chair and patient liaison for SODA.
“We sort of took that idea and kind of expanded upon it a little bit. We did have a donor family locally that we knew about and unfortunately we don't always have that information…So with this family that we knew about, we were able to help them, and we were able to personalize it a little bit. For instance, we knew they had children, so we picked up some toys for the kids, just so that, give them something new to do while mom and dad are maybe zoned out just because of grief. You're not thinking clearly. It's a hard time.”
Because of the privacy that surrounds organ donations, Morrison-Weir explains they don’t often know the specific details surrounding a donor family. So the packages they create need to be compact since they are given to a representative of the Trillium Gift of Life Network.
“She goes to 14 different hospitals (in Lambton County). And has to keep this on her as she travels within an area in Ontario…So we decided upon a Visa card so that they could buy gas or groceries, or take out food, whatever they would need…and a journal. We think a journal is really important in those days to have some place to put your feelings,” Morrison-Weir tells The Journal.
But that doesn’t mean the packages can’t be personalized to the family or individual. SODA would have to be approached by someone who knew the donor family and provide information that would allow them to personalize it.
People can also make specific donations towards the Donor Family Packages.
“Generally the majority of our funds that we raise are for patients because that's where there is the most need. But of course if someone wanted to specifically donate for the donor family packages that would be amazing,” says Morrison-Weir.
The new initiative is unique to Lambton County says Morrison-Weir, and while it’s hard to think about death, she stresses the importance of being an organ donor.
“Organ donation and transplantation is really, it's about life. I know we often talk about it or don't want to talk about it because people associate it with death,” explains Morrison-Weir.
“We're really taking someone who's likely died under tragic circumstances…and we are making something positive come out of that senseless loss. And someone who is at the end of their life as a result of a condition that they have, has no option left. Transplantation is the final option. It's a treatment option. It's not a cure, but it is the last option before they will also pass away. So it is taking a senseless loss and making something positive out of that loss.”
And Morrison-Weir hopes these Donor Family Packages can help the people associated with the donor feel some comfort and compassion in their time of grief.