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Celebrating 50 years of donation and transplant in BC

October 24, 2018, marks 50 years since the first ever transplant in British Columbia. Today thousands of British Columbians are alive because of an organ transplant.
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On October 24, 1968, a 43-year old man underwent the first ever transplant in British Columbia at Vancouver General Hospital. His was one of only two transplants done that year, and he gained six more years of life with his new kidney. 

Fast forward 50 years, to a record-setting 479 lives saved in 2017 through transplant. BC's donation and transplant program has achieved tremendous growth and success. BC is now a Canadian leader in organ donation, achieving the highest rate of organ donation in Canada in 2017, with more than 8,000 transplants since that first kidney was transplanted 50 years ago.

There are thousands of people involved in the donation or transplant journey of patients and families. The success of that journey is a transformative feat of expertise, coordination and caring across the province, in every health authority.

To celebrate 50 years, we are sharing 50 stories from the donation and transplant community. Watch for one story to be posted each week.

Have a story you would like us to share?

If you have been touched by organ donation or transplantation, send us your story at: info@bct.phsa.ca with the subject #50in50.

Timeline showing 50 years of donation & transplantation in BC - link goes to PDF version

50in50; #50YearsofTransplant; BC Transplant
 
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