Heart mom backs new organ plan

By Nadia Moharib, Sun Media

April 17, 2006

Heart recipients Shaylynn, left, and Kristy Plotsky. (Carlos Amat, Sun Media)

CALGARY -- Heart-transplant recipients Kristy Plotsky and her daughter Shaylynn are living proof organ donors save lives.

That is why Plotsky, who named her daughter after her own organ donor, said she backs a recently proposed new Alberta law which would hopefully increase the number of life-giving organ donations.

"Obviously I'm totally supportive of anything that's going to help in having more organs available," Plotsky said yesterday.

"Lots of people pass away before one is even available."

In the government bill, doctors must take action after a patient has died by marking in the chart whether the patient is suitable for donation and if so, notify the Human Organ Procurement and Exchange (HOPE) agency.

Last year, of 534 Albertans needing transplants, 41 died waiting.

Dr. Norman Kneteman, transplantation director for Capital Health - the Alberta and Prairies centre for most transplants - said the proposed law is a "move forward."

He said he is pleased it also includes a proposal to see organ donor cards be legal like a will, so the person who signed it has the last word in consultation with family whether or not to be a donor.

"We still have 40 to 50 people die a year waiting for transplants." Kneteman said yesterday.

"We need to make sure we are doing everything we can."

Recipients and donor families rarely meet, but Plotsky and the family of the woman who gave her her heart managed to find one another.

Plotsky, now 23, is about the same age as the woman who died in a car crash, leaving behind her life-saving donation 10 years ago.

Shaylynn, named after her mother's donor, got her heart transplant about two years ago.

"Their daughter, whose heart I have, really wanted to have twins so it was kind of special to them that I did," she said.

"That was just a sign from their daughter. It was just amazing ... I think there's a reason I got that specific heart.

"You really feel for them but if it was all turned around, I hope I would be able to donate organs to someone."

Copyright © 2006, Canoe Inc.

This article posted May 20, 2006.