Darryl Gagnon wants nothing more than to live to meet his future grandkids, and he香蕉视频直播檚 hoping there香蕉视频直播檚 a hero somewhere out there who香蕉视频直播檚 willing to help make it happen.

The Semiahmoo Secondary alum, now 48, was put on a transplant list 香蕉视频直播渁 couple weeks香蕉视频直播� ago, about two years after learning 香蕉视频直播� by sheer chance 香蕉视频直播� that his kidneys were failing.

The news came after Gagnon香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渇ourth new doctor in five years香蕉视频直播� sent him for blood tests as part of a routine checkup. The lab work was something that, for no particular reason beyond the shifting physician coverage, hadn香蕉视频直播檛 been requisitioned for some time, he said.

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While the father of four had no reason to suspect anything was amiss 香蕉视频直播� no symptoms whatsoever, in fact 香蕉视频直播� the results showed his kidneys香蕉视频直播� filtration levels were 香蕉视频直播渄angerously low.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t was already quite reduced by the time I found out,香蕉视频直播� Gagnon said Friday (April 29). 香蕉视频直播淚t would have been nice to learn this years ago and maybe I could香蕉视频直播檝e cut the salt out and drank more water a long time ago.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 not sure how it slipped through the cracks.香蕉视频直播�

Last week, following word a live donor was his best chance at a long life, Gagnon香蕉视频直播檚 wife Amy posted an appeal on Facebook, describing her husband as someone who 香蕉视频直播渓ives for his kids.香蕉视频直播�

The stay-at-home dad spends months every year planning a game-show themed Christmas morning just to see their eyes light up, and is similarly dedicated to making annual camping trips an experience to remember, recently organizing a Big Brother-style adventure.

He 香蕉视频直播渘eeds a longer life to watch his kids graduate high school, get married, and have what he can香蕉视频直播檛 wait for香蕉视频直播�,香蕉视频直播� the Facebook post states.

香蕉视频直播淲e can香蕉视频直播檛 live without him,香蕉视频直播� Amy told Peace Arch News. 香蕉视频直播淗e just wants to see his kids grow up.香蕉视频直播�

According to the Kidney Foundation, kidneys are the most common living-organ donation and, the procedure is the most successful of all transplants. This is partly due to the increased time the process allows for tissue-matching, which reduces the risk of organ rejection.

On average, a kidney from a deceased donor lasts 10 to 15 years, while one from a living donor lasts 15 to 20 years, the site adds.

香蕉视频直播淜nowing that most of my grandkids are coming 10, 15 years from now, (six months to six years on dialysis is) about the most that I have if I don香蕉视频直播檛 get this,香蕉视频直播� Gagnon said.

The Gagnons香蕉视频直播� kids range in age from 12 to 24 years. The family has called Cloverdale home for 18 years, but Gagnon香蕉视频直播檚 ties to the Semiahmoo Peninsula 香蕉视频直播� where he still has family and friends 香蕉视频直播� remain strong.

While he and Amy will mark 25 years married later this year, they learned while dating that he had first made her laugh long before that, when she was in Grade 9 at Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary and attended an improv show he香蕉视频直播檇 hosted at Semi.

香蕉视频直播淔or years, my brother and I talked about this funny guy who was at the show,香蕉视频直播� Amy said. 香蕉视频直播淎nd then when Darryl and I were dating, he said, 香蕉视频直播榯hat was me.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淗e was such a standout, the funniest guy there.香蕉视频直播�

A knack for comedy landed Gagnon on Montreal香蕉视频直播檚 Just for Laughs stage for a year, and he said he was offered a mini tour of the West Coast when he was in his early 20s. But he knew what he really wanted was a family.

香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 always been my priority,香蕉视频直播� he said.

A registered organ donor himself, Gagnon said he realizes handing over an organ is no small ask, and it香蕉视频直播檚 a question he香蕉视频直播檚 not specifically put to family members, feeling that 香蕉视频直播渋f they want to donate, they will.香蕉视频直播�

Amy said she 香蕉视频直播渟at with it for awhile香蕉视频直播� before making the Facebook post.

香蕉视频直播淗ow do you go about asking someone for that? It香蕉视频直播檚 so hard and so difficult,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Many pledged to share the post and at least one commenter has said they have the same Type O blood as Gagnon, and have reached to the hospital about donating. Another said they didn香蕉视频直播檛 know their blood type, 香蕉视频直播渂ut I am going to find out and pray that I can help you my friend.香蕉视频直播�

Gagnon said he has been touched by the response.

香蕉视频直播淚t was nice to know that the few people I香蕉视频直播檝e let into my life definitely think it香蕉视频直播檚 worth sharing,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淣ice to see that I香蕉视频直播檓 loved.香蕉视频直播�

Not everyone can qualify as a donor, however, and the process of determining if someone is a match is rigorous. Just 17 per cent of those who put their names in the hat qualify, Gagnon said.

The process is also anonymous, with recipients only informed of a match when it香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播済o time.香蕉视频直播�

All living donation is managed through Vancouver General Hospital and St. Paul香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital Pre-Assessment Transplant Clinics.

Anyone wishing to explore being a living donor for Gagnon may email kidneydonornurse@vch.ca, quoting registration number 24342.

Gagnon quipped that if he does find a match, and that individual identifies him or herself to him, they can expect huge thank yous in the years to come.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檒l be constantly sending them updates of me holding grandchildren, me going on vacation香蕉视频直播� they香蕉视频直播檇 definitely be my hero,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淭hey香蕉视频直播檇 be on my mind everyday, for the rest of my life.香蕉视频直播�

In the meantime, he said he香蕉视频直播檚 made it his mission to encourage others to get their kidney function tested regularly.