BC Transplant and Service BC share a longstanding partnership rooted in a common goal: increasing awareness and understanding of organ donation and transplantation across the province. Through Service BC offices, this collaboration brings important information directly into communities, creating opportunities for meaningful, everyday conversations about registering your decision and the impact of organ donation and transplantation.
While the majority of people support the idea of organ donation, many don’t register their decision. Frontline Service BC staff help bridge that gap – normalizing the conversation, answering questions, and encouraging individuals to record their decision.
Last year, Service BC launched an ambassador program to further engage staff around the province. Ambassadors are BC Transplant champions who provide support to their colleagues and help develop and lead awareness initiatives. We would like to introduce you to four Service BC / BC Transplant ambassadors who are making a difference.
Tammy Sullivan is a Customer Service Representative at Service BC in beautiful 100 Mile House. She started working at Service BC in January 2021 as part of the Rapid Response Team and then moved to the counter later that year. In her free time, Tammy loves trying new recipes in the kitchen or learning about the natural foliage in the area and their medicinal benefits.
“I have had a few interactions with organ transplant recipients in the office, and the one thing that stands out about all of them is that they have such a great outlook on life and are genuinely happy and grateful. I want everyone to know that there is no greater gift, that can be a legacy of someone’s life, than to give life to another person.”
Tammy is very passionate about BC Transplant and looks forward to participating in the ambassador program. She is pictured (right) with her grandson who is grateful for the donation of tendon tissue that has given him the ability to be an active child.
Monica Tyndall is a BC Transplant ambassador for the Vancouver Island Service BC offices. She had a very personal journey with donation and transplantation that has given her family a new chance at life. So, when the opportunity arose to become more involved in the program, she knew she wanted to give back to something that gave her so much. Monica is always happy to attend a concert, watch some sports (football in particular), do some baking or just relax on a patio to catch up with friends.
“A few months ago, I had a client that was in for service. While she was at my counter and we were chatting about things she saw the BC Transplant QR code poster at my desk. She told me that she was on the kidney transplant waitlist and a few days prior, she had received the call that they had found a match. She had been on the list for five years and receiving dialysis for the past three years. We both started tearing up, it was a wonderful moment.”
Monica truly believes organ donation and transplantation can change the trajectory of someone’s life. She thinks the decision to donate can give another family more time with their loved ones and it is the biggest gift you can give – an important message that inspired her to be a BCT ambassador.
Lorelei Long joined Service BC in 2022 as a Customer Service Representative in Nelson where she currently lives. When Service BC introduced her to the idea of becoming a BC Transplant Ambassador, she decided this opportunity would be very meaningful to her. Lorelei has a personal connection to organ donation and transplantation.
“BC Transplant has positively impacted my family's lives. I have had a close personal experience as my father is a heart transplant recipient. He got his new heart in the spring of 1997. It is hard to believe it has been 28 years! He received the heart of a 15-year-old and our family is eternally grateful to the donor family. It warms my heart every day knowing that because of the donor and their family, my dad survived as he was given a new chance at life. My dad had two previous open-heart surgeries and two valve replacements. He went through so much struggle, stress, and illness. The new heart uplifted our family; we are honored to have received such a gift.”
It warms her heart to be able to raise awareness for organ donation and transplant when she has firsthand experience about its impact. Lorelei is excited for this role and hopes to inspire people by answering any questions that come her way!
Danielle Bell has been a Customer Service Representative in Campbell River for the last six years. She loves spending time outdoors – camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, and exploring the beauty of Vancouver Island. She feels incredibly fortunate to work in a role where she gets to support the people in the province of BC every day, and to do so alongside a community of colleagues who inspire her.
“Before joining Service BC, I spent several years in the healthcare field as a Medical Laboratory Assistant. Those years shaped me in meaningful ways, especially through the people I met. One of my previous co-worker’s son received two heart transplants before the age of six, an experience that opened my eyes to the profound impact of organ donation. More recently, one of my best friends became a living kidney donor through the paired exchange program, an act of courage and generosity that saved two lives. Their stories fuel my passion for raising awareness about organ donation and motivated me to join the BC Transplant Ambassador Program, something I’m deeply proud to be part of.”
Danielle understands the need for organs across the province and is excited to do her part to raise awareness for organ donation and transplant.
We are grateful to these four ambassadors and many more people at Service BC who support us with their passion for increasing education and awareness about organ donation and transplant. It’s a team effort, so thank you to Service BC for its continued support and dedication over the years.
