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w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER Fr id ay , A ug us t 2 7, 2 01 0 2 8 LivingOakville Beaver LIVING EDITOR: ANGELA BLACKBURN Phone: 905-337-5560 Fax: 905-337-5571 e-mail: ablackburn@oakvillebeaver.com By Nathan Howes OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Becoming a kidney donor canbe the gift that keeps on giv-ing. Oakville resident Christine de Konings goodwill helped save two lives after she became a kidney donor last fall her boyfirend and a complete stranger. De Koning spent nearly two years debating whether to donate one of her kidneys, even though she knew she wouldnt be a match for her boyfriend, Wayne Tucker. She knew her generosity would save another life and move Tucker up on the transplant list he was on a list that could be as long as seven years. And it did. The list exchange saw de Koning donate her kidney to a recipient at the top of the waiting list for blood type A. In exchange for her donation, Tucker was bumped to the top of the blood type O list. De Koning donated her kidney last November, while Tucker received his kidney transplant in February. Although she never expected to meet the recipient of her kidney, they met through a chance encounter and have since kept in touch. It turns out that de Konings kidney went to 37-year-old Nicholas Vradis and it saved his life. De Koning and Vradis had their operations on Nov. 5. The gentleman who I donated to, I got a letter from him in December and ... when we were at St. Mikes, I gave the transplant team my reply back to him, with a copy of the Oakville Beaver and the story, said de Koning. At the time, de Koning and Vradis could not have direct con- tact with each other, as no person- al info was allowed to be exchanged, so they communicated through their transplant offices. Perhaps it was fate months later they would both end up in Toronto at St. Michaels Hospital on the same day. When de Koning was in the waiting room, she heard a mysteri- ous voice call her name. Almost immediately, she looked up and knew right away it was Vradis. That was something so unreal and it was only thanks to the article from the Oakville Beaver. I knew even before he said Hi, Im Nicholas. Im the one who got your kidney. I knew that was him, said de Koning. I cant even describe (it). There was this sense of overwhelming having him stand there in front of me. Tears came right to my eyes and the first thing he said was, Thank you so much for saving my life. And then he gave me a really big hug. Vradis was happy he made the choice that day to come over and introduce himself to de Koning. I thought this is a good oppor- tunity, (but) I wasnt too sure, so I said, Hi Christine. I think it was very positive and it was good vibes. It felt right. I was compelled to say hi and we con- nected that day. Since then weve been on Facebook corresponding, said Vradis. From that day forward, de Koning and Vradis kept in touch with each other through e-mail, Facebook and exchanged phone numbers. A few months later they found time to meet again. This time it was outside of the hospital. I thought it would be really nice maybe if she were interested in getting together for lunch. We kept it on the backburner, as she was busy and eventually she says that August would be good for her because of her work schedule, said Vradis. We were trying to figure out what day in August and my sister suggested well do it on my birth- day, sort of like a celebration. It makes sense, 37 years and here I am with a new kidney. On Aug. 8, both families got together at Vradis sisters house for his birthday. They had a barbecue, played bocce ball and had some photos taken together. De Koning enjoyed it. To meet him on his 37th birth- day was pretty cool. He told me he really only had one week to live, so going to his birthday almost nine months past surgery, you kind of got to sit there and go, This is amazing, said de Koning. The doctors werent giving him to his next birthday. Along with the two families that were in attendance, HBO was there as well to film Vradis sister and the family for an upcoming documen- tary about kidney transplants and how the donor exchange system works, as well as compensation for kidney donors and what can be done to improve the process. HBO is doing a little documen- tary to raise awareness for kidney transplants and the whole net- working that goes on to get people connected to their donors, said Vradis. I told my sister that they might be interested in doing a fol- low up on my situation because now Ive made contact with the kidney donor. They might want to meet the donor and have both perspectives. We will see if that comes to fruition because they have been working on it for quite a while now. For de Koning, Tucker and Vradis, their surgeries were suc- cessful and so far they have had lit- tle to no complications since. The new kidneys are sitting well with Vradis and Tucker. Follow-ups have been smooth with no signs of any changes in blood work. As recipi- ents of new kidneys, Tucker and Vradis will have to take medica- tions for the rest of their lives to help the body adjust. I basically got to trick my body from rejecting the kidney, said Vradis. Before I was on dialysis to stay alive and now Im taking these pills for my kidney from failing and Ive got to maintain a low choles- terol, low sugar, low salt and low fat diet. Last month I went swimming for the first time in 10 years. Its definitely affected me in a positive way, Im feeling the drive and Im feeling ambitious. One organ and tissue donor can save up to eight lives, according to the Ontario Trillium Gift of Life Network, however few people sign their donor card. For those who are thinking about donating, definitely people sign their donor cards. Its the sin- gle most important thing you can do, it can be for anything, said de Koning. I know it is still an over- whelming feeling to receive some- one else's kidney. My outlook has changed, Im optimistic. Im considering things that I never considered in the past while living on the dialysis lifestyle. Life is good. Im very happy, said Vradis. I feel very good to know some- one like Christine. Shes such an amazing woman. She sacrificed a part of herself to save her boyfriend and help me. Now we are a part of each others storyline. idney donation has two happy endings I feel very good to know someone like Christine. Shes such an amazing woman. She sacrificed a part of herself to save her (boyfriend) and help me. Now we are a part of each others storyline . n Nicholas Vradis, recipient of Christine de Konings kidney. SUBMITTED PHOTO MEETING A MATCH: A grateful Nicholas Vradis hugs Christine de Koning at his recent birthday party. Vradis was the recipient of a kidney de Koning donat- ed in order to move her boyfriend up the list for a kidney transplant. Without a transplant, doctors had predicted Vradis would not live to see his birthday. Chance meeting unites donor and recipient