(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
Two of Cobourg’s six residents who are transplant recipients addressed Cobourg council Wednesday to urge the town to help them raise awareness about the importance of this gift of life.
Both Sarah Marshall and David Mitchell came to grief due to rare diseases.
Born with a rare condition, Marshall became Canada’s first pediatric multi-organ transplant recipient at the age of five months and 24 days, receiving a stomach, pancreas, liver and bowel. She went on to finish school, volunteer as a big sister, obtain two college diplomas and get married.
At this time, 1,629 Ontario residents are awaiting a life-saving transplants, Marshall said. Not all will survive until one is available.
“One person can save up to eight lives,” she noted, asking council to help her foster awareness by raising the Be A Donor flag for April (Be A Donor month).
“Signing up takes two minutes, and it can save someone’s life,” Marshall stated.
“As our family knows, it can change someone’s life forever.”
Mitchell was a 40-year-old Cobourg firefighter when he suffered a sudden cardiac event in 2015.
“Less than two months later I had a heart transplant. I wouldn’t be here without it. The doctors at that point had given me less than 72 hours,” Mitchell recalled.
“Your organs are no good in the ground,” he added.
“Pass them along to somebody else. Give somebody else that second chance at life.”
Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty related how she had been inspired by meeting Marshall some years ago, and was moved to check the organ-donor box on her driver’s license.
For anyone without a driver’s license, Mitchell added, you can get information on becoming an organ donor at beadonor.ca
Council subsequently passed a motion was to proclaim April Be A Donor Month and raise the flag at Victoria Hall and light its exterior in green for the entire month, as well as encouraging everyone to participate in Green Shirt Day on April 7.
