Meet BCT’s Living Organ Donor Recovery Coordinator, Melissa

11/09/2024

In honour of Living Donation Week, we shine a spotlight on our Living Organ Donor Recovery Coordinator, Melissa. She plays an integral part in ensuring living kidney retrievals are safe and successful.

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Living Donation Week, from Sept. 8-14 this year, is an opportunity to commemorate living donors and their selfless decision to donate. Living organ donation is an act of altruism that offers another choice for some transplant candidates, reducing their time on the waitlist and leading to better long-term outcomes for the recipient.

Melissa is a living organ donation coordinator at BC Transplant. She loves to stay active, spread joy and kindness around the office and helps to save many lives through her role at BC Transplant. Her passion and dedication is truly admirable.

1. What is your role at BC Transplant and how long have you been in this role?

I am a Living Organ Donor Recovery Coordinator and I have been in this role for two years now. I absolutely love it here; we have a great team of individuals who work hard around the clock to make organ donation and transplant possible.

2. What does a day in the life of your job look like?

Living donation retrievals are scheduled in advance. On a retrieval day, I am onsite early in the office for case preparation. This involves reviewing donor information, communication with various people, packing supplies/equipment and attending the operating room to assist with the the intraoperative process of organ retrieval, perfusion, and organ preparation. The job is the perfect balance between office work and hands-on work in the operating room. It also allows me to maintain flexibilityin my life with my two little ones.

3. What are some challenges that you encounter in your role?

Behind the scenes there are various moving pieces, sometimes occuring all at once, which can prove to be challenging at times. However, I believe these challenges I encourage me to step outside my comfort zone and help me continue to grow and adapt.

4. What is the most rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is witnessing the immense impact and significance of living donation. Many individuals receive a second chance at life. How beautiful is that?

5. Have you met an individual who has been personally affected by the work that you do?

I have been very fortunate to hear inspiring stories in the community of those whose loved ones have experienced life-changing impacts through living donation. It makes me grateful for my job and drives me to come to work every day. My colleagues at BCT and other health professionals also drive me to come to work every day with their kind and caring personalities. I am blessed to work with amazing people.

6. What is your message for Living Donation Week?

This is an incredible inspiring week to celebrate living donation while raising awareness of this impactful life-changing gift. I encourage everyone to take a minute to learn more about living donation, and help in celebrating living donors, recipients, and transplant teams.