The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

3| The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,S eptem ber 20,2018 theifp.ca Two-year-old Davis doesn't want anyone sit- ting in his grandfather's chair. He's waiting for him to come home. The Georgetown fami- ly is waiting, hoping that their father, 62-year-old Eric De Silva will get a liv- er transplant soon, but without a live donor, they could be waiting months. "He doesn't have that long," said daughter Ash- ley De Silva, explaining that her father fell ill in June, after noticing swell- ing, fluid collecting in his legs and abdomen. He kept saying "I'm OK, I'll get better," until one night his daughter called the ambulance, and he was taken to Georgetown Hospital. Staff at the hospital ad- vised him that he had acute liver failure and gave him 24 hours to live. His family took him to Sunnybrook Hospital, where staff gave him treatment. "It could happen to any- one," said Ashley, explain- ing that acute liver failure occurs when the liver be- comes scarred and is un- able to filter toxins from the body. De Silva is currently waiting for a liver trans- plant through Toronto General Hospital, where he is ranked in high need. "A deceased donor or- gan could take up to a year," said Ashley, ex- plaining that the hospital has the largest live liver donation program in the country. The family continues to search for possible do- nor candidates, hoping that someone with their father's blood type comes forward. De Silva is in the A group of blood types, and the ideal candidate would be his height, five-foot- three or taller. "He's the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his back," said Ashley, explaining that he absolutely adores his two grandchildren, ages one and two. "He really wants to see them grow up." De Silva moved to Can- ada from Guyana with his wife when they were young, starting their lives together in Toronto before moving to Brampton, and subsequently Georgetown with their four children. "They started with nothing in this country to- gether," said Ashley, ex- plaining that her dad worked for Canada Pack- ers for over 20 years be- fore starting his own con- tracting business. "He always gave back to the community here," she said, remembering count- less community barbe- cues and events with the local Canadian-Caribbe- an community. "He was the one cleaning out the fridge, cooking up a storm for everyone." According to the Cana- dian Liver Foundation, over one in four Canadi- ans will be affected by liv- er disease in their life- time. Currently, there are over 400,000 patients re- quiring liver donations in Canada. For more information, or to become a donor, con- tact the University Health Network's liver donor pro- gram at 416-340-4800 ext. 6581 or email livingdonor- liver@uhn.ca. NEWS 'HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT LONG,' GEORGETOWN GRANDFATHER IN DIRE NEED OF LIVER TRANSPLANT ALEXANDRA HECK aheck@metroland.com Eric De Silva is a Georgetown resident in need of a liver transplant. His family is searching for a live donation, as a deceased donor could be a year wait. Photo courtesy of Ashley De Silva NALP ECNANETNIAM EVITATNEVERP RUO HTIW SRIAPER LLA NO %02 EVAS Pet Sitting Jennie Joyce 416-996-4164 • We offer the comfort and care your pet deserves while you're away to ensure they feel safe and secure until you come home! Whether it's just letting them out when you can't or going on an hour long hike, we do it all!! strutyourstuffpets@gmail.com Strut your Stuff Dog Walking and Pet care Accepting new Furry Friends! Acton and georgetown Dog WAlking GEORGETOWN GARDEN CENTRE 140 GUELPH ST. 905-877-8882 A family run business since 1972! CLOSED MONDAYS Corn Tomatoes Super Sweet Peaches & Cream TOPSOIL LOCAL GROWN Brugmansia (AngelTrumpet) $999from $19925L Bag Large Size 1 Gal Pot 3 fOr $24 Perennial Plants fOrTHE GArDEN or $8.99 each Gold 2018 Halton Hills GARDEN MUMS $399from MIXED ACCENT PLANTErS Great colours & variety 2 fOr $45from