Darryl Gagnon wants nothing more than to live to meet his future grandkids, and he害羞草研究所檚 hoping there害羞草研究所檚 a hero somewhere out there who害羞草研究所檚 willing to help make it happen.

The Semiahmoo Secondary alum, now 48, was put on a transplant list 害羞草研究所渁 couple weeks害羞草研究所� ago, about two years after learning 害羞草研究所� by sheer chance 害羞草研究所� that his kidneys were failing.

The news came after Gagnon害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渇ourth new doctor in five years害羞草研究所� sent him for blood tests as part of a routine checkup. The lab work was something that, for no particular reason beyond the shifting physician coverage, hadn害羞草研究所檛 been requisitioned for some time, he said.

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While the father of four had no reason to suspect anything was amiss 害羞草研究所� no symptoms whatsoever, in fact 害羞草研究所� the results showed his kidneys害羞草研究所� filtration levels were 害羞草研究所渄angerously low.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚t was already quite reduced by the time I found out,害羞草研究所� Gagnon said Friday (April 29). 害羞草研究所淚t would have been nice to learn this years ago and maybe I could害羞草研究所檝e cut the salt out and drank more water a long time ago.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not sure how it slipped through the cracks.害羞草研究所�

Last week, following word a live donor was his best chance at a long life, Gagnon害羞草研究所檚 wife Amy posted an appeal on Facebook, describing her husband as someone who 害羞草研究所渓ives for his kids.害羞草研究所�

The stay-at-home dad spends months every year planning a game-show themed Christmas morning just to see their eyes light up, and is similarly dedicated to making annual camping trips an experience to remember, recently organizing a Big Brother-style adventure.

He 害羞草研究所渘eeds a longer life to watch his kids graduate high school, get married, and have what he can害羞草研究所檛 wait for害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� the Facebook post states.

害羞草研究所淲e can害羞草研究所檛 live without him,害羞草研究所� Amy told Peace Arch News. 害羞草研究所淗e just wants to see his kids grow up.害羞草研究所�

According to the Kidney Foundation, kidneys are the most common living-organ donation and, the procedure is the most successful of all transplants. This is partly due to the increased time the process allows for tissue-matching, which reduces the risk of organ rejection.

On average, a kidney from a deceased donor lasts 10 to 15 years, while one from a living donor lasts 15 to 20 years, the site adds.

害羞草研究所淜nowing that most of my grandkids are coming 10, 15 years from now, (six months to six years on dialysis is) about the most that I have if I don害羞草研究所檛 get this,害羞草研究所� Gagnon said.

The Gagnons害羞草研究所� kids range in age from 12 to 24 years. The family has called Cloverdale home for 18 years, but Gagnon害羞草研究所檚 ties to the Semiahmoo Peninsula 害羞草研究所� where he still has family and friends 害羞草研究所� remain strong.

While he and Amy will mark 25 years married later this year, they learned while dating that he had first made her laugh long before that, when she was in Grade 9 at Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary and attended an improv show he害羞草研究所檇 hosted at Semi.

害羞草研究所淔or years, my brother and I talked about this funny guy who was at the show,害羞草研究所� Amy said. 害羞草研究所淎nd then when Darryl and I were dating, he said, 害羞草研究所榯hat was me.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淗e was such a standout, the funniest guy there.害羞草研究所�

A knack for comedy landed Gagnon on Montreal害羞草研究所檚 Just for Laughs stage for a year, and he said he was offered a mini tour of the West Coast when he was in his early 20s. But he knew what he really wanted was a family.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 always been my priority,害羞草研究所� he said.

A registered organ donor himself, Gagnon said he realizes handing over an organ is no small ask, and it害羞草研究所檚 a question he害羞草研究所檚 not specifically put to family members, feeling that 害羞草研究所渋f they want to donate, they will.害羞草研究所�

Amy said she 害羞草研究所渟at with it for awhile害羞草研究所� before making the Facebook post.

害羞草研究所淗ow do you go about asking someone for that? It害羞草研究所檚 so hard and so difficult,害羞草研究所� she said.

Many pledged to share the post and at least one commenter has said they have the same Type O blood as Gagnon, and have reached to the hospital about donating. Another said they didn害羞草研究所檛 know their blood type, 害羞草研究所渂ut I am going to find out and pray that I can help you my friend.害羞草研究所�

Gagnon said he has been touched by the response.

害羞草研究所淚t was nice to know that the few people I害羞草研究所檝e let into my life definitely think it害羞草研究所檚 worth sharing,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淣ice to see that I害羞草研究所檓 loved.害羞草研究所�

Not everyone can qualify as a donor, however, and the process of determining if someone is a match is rigorous. Just 17 per cent of those who put their names in the hat qualify, Gagnon said.

The process is also anonymous, with recipients only informed of a match when it害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所済o time.害羞草研究所�

All living donation is managed through Vancouver General Hospital and St. Paul害羞草研究所檚 Hospital Pre-Assessment Transplant Clinics.

Anyone wishing to explore being a living donor for Gagnon may email kidneydonornurse@vch.ca, quoting registration number 24342.

Gagnon quipped that if he does find a match, and that individual identifies him or herself to him, they can expect huge thank yous in the years to come.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檒l be constantly sending them updates of me holding grandchildren, me going on vacation害羞草研究所� they害羞草研究所檇 definitely be my hero,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檇 be on my mind everyday, for the rest of my life.害羞草研究所�

In the meantime, he said he害羞草研究所檚 made it his mission to encourage others to get their kidney function tested regularly.