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7 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, October 28, 2009 Kidney donation may give boyfriend new lease on life Continued from page 1 this June, but during recovery he developed ketoacidosis -- a potentially lifethreatening complication in patients with diabetes. He was in the hospital for three weeks. "His body shut down and it was very scary," de Koning said. "It was touch and go for a while for him." Doctors started Tucker on dialysis, which the family credits with saving his life, while he was in the hospital. He now does dialysis at home every night for eight to ten hours. Tucker was added to the deceased donor list at St. Mike's when he started dialysis. The long wait time was the final push for de Koning to volunteer for a special donor program called a list exchange at the hospital. The list exchange means that de Koning will donate her kidney to a recipient at the top of the waiting list for blood type A. In exchange for her donation, Tucker will be bumped to the top of the blood type O list. He has been told he will likely get a kidney within the new few months. "I could get one the next day or it could be six months," he said. Tucker has had a long battle with his health. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 14 years old. He has struggled with the disease over the decades. He currently tests his blood sugar levels and administers insulin shots after every meal. Diabetes has wreaked havoc on his body. He now has limited vision in his left eye and suffers from a number of different health prob- NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER would like to meet that person," she said. "It is kind of overwhelming to know your body part will be in someone else and they will have a chance to live. It could be someone's mom or sister or someone young. It could be anyone." There are wedding bells in the couple's future. Tucker wants to wait until he is fully healthy before tying the knot. The wedding will then be a celebration of love and health for the family. He would also like to take the family on a vacation. "We want to go to Disneyland," he said with a big smile. The couple wanted to share their story to raise awareness for organ donation. One organ and tissue donor can save up to eight lives, according to the Ontario Trillium Gift of Life Network. De Koning and Tucker said they are shocked so few people have signed their donor card. "If more people signed their donor cards, we could wipe out the waiting list," she said. "No one should die because they are waiting for an organ donation." FAMILY DECISION: Ten-year-old Maddie Drexler is proud of her mother, Christine de Koning, for donating her kidney to a complete stranger in order for her mom's boyfirend, Wayne Tucker, to improve his chances for a kidney donation. lems. He is currently taking many different medications to keep his body going. "When you are in your 20s, you feel you are indestructible and that it won't happen to me and try to control your diabetes, but in the end, it can be a devastating disease, like it is now and what it is doing to me," he said. Tucker said he has been reluctant to let de Koning donate a kidney to help save him. "I have been putting it off because it is bad enough I have to go through all of this stuff. I don't want her going through it as well," he said. Once he has the kidney transplant, he will be placed on a waiting list for a pancreas transplant. He has been told that the waiting list is approximately three years. "Our ultimate goal is to get him a pancreas transplant, which will get rid of the diabetes altogether," de Koning said. Tucker is looking forward to the day when he has a new kidney and pancreas. "I'll be starting a new life possibly as early as age 43," he said. "It is kind of unbelievable. I can't imagine not being a diabetic after these 25 years." De Koning has three children -- Samantha, 14, Curtis, 11, and Maddie, 10. They have all grown fond of Tucker over the past three years that the couple has been together. "The kids have said if they could donate a kidney, they would," said de Koning. Maddie said she is especially proud of her mother's decision to donate her kidney. "I'm glad she is doing this to save Wayne's life," the young girl said. "It makes me happy." De Koning will be in the hospital for three or four days following a laparoscopic surgery to remove her left kidney. Following that, she will be off work for one to two months for recovery. Her doctors have said she will not have to be on any medications long-term. De Koning said she isn't worried about living with one kidney. "Family history shows we don't have any kidney failure, disease or cancer," she said. "More than likely, the only way I would damage my kidney would be through an accident. I talked to all sorts of doctors and talked to counsellors, so I know what I'm getting into. People can live with one kidney, so I don't see a reason not to donate." She said she hopes to meet the person receiving her kidney. "I don't need to stay in touch with them or anything like that, but I THE HST and YOUR CEMETERY PLANS An important message from Glen Oaks Memorial Gardens. If your surname begins with A toM and you have purchased cemetery spaces or related services, please contact us immediately regarding the pending HST. 905-257-1100 This winter cozy up to a warm wood insert by Vermont castings. Christmas is coming and so are your guests! Mayor says increases warranted Frameless Shower Enclosure is sure to impress! A New Continued from page 1 increase for a new single-family residential unit with the charge in north Oakville moving from $13,327 to $21,682 and the charge in south Oakville moving from $14,102 to $22,018. Non-residential development charges also rose 34 per cent. During a council meeting earlier this month Town Council voted to defend these increased charges, which Mayor Rob Burton has dubbed essential for minimizing the impact of growth on the taxpayer. 20% Off Have yours installed before it's too late! All Custom Glass Shower Enclosures Sale on from October 26 - Nov.15, 2009. Discount applies to materials only. "MASONRY & FIREPLACE DESIGN SPECIALISTS" 550 Bronte Rd., Oakville 905.827.2951 406 SPEERS RD., OAKVILLE ACROSS FROM RONA LANSING 905-337-2066 w w w. c o b b l e s t o n e m b e r s . c a