害羞草研究所淵ou know you are saving my life, right?害羞草研究所�

Those are the first words Princeton害羞草研究所檚 Christine Unrau said to her benefactor Gary Johal, who is willing to put up as much money as it takes so that Unrau can receive a double lung transplant, as soon as a matching donor is found.

Despite an earlier GoFundMe campaign that raised more than $25,000, it害羞草研究所檚 estimated the cost of post-operative care could easily exceed $40,000.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 going to be in this with you until the end,害羞草研究所� he told Unrau, after presenting her with a bouquet of flowers and a warm embrace.

The two met at Princeton害羞草研究所檚 Copper Pit Restaurant, Saturday, March 23.

害羞草研究所淚 will cover the cost, whatever it is. If it goes to $50,000 or $60,000, it doesn害羞草研究所檛 really matter.害羞草研究所�

Johal, a successful entrepreneur from Penticton, learned of Unrau害羞草研究所檚 plight through media reports, earlier this week

Following surgery, Unrau will need to live in Vancouver between three and six months, with her husband Arlen, who will be her required caregiver the entire time.

The costs, which are not covered by the province, were beyond the family害羞草研究所檚 reach. Unrau removed her name from the transplant registry in January, for that reason.

Johal was drawn into Unrau害羞草研究所檚 journey because of his father, he told Black Press.

The family patriarch spent six years on a waiting list for a kidney transplant.

害羞草研究所淚 know the pain and the stress and when I saw (her) name was taken off the list it broke my heart. It was devastating.害羞草研究所�

Johal害羞草研究所檚 dad eventually had successful transplant surgery.

Claiming good fortune, 害羞草研究所渨e were able to pay all the expenses,害羞草研究所� he said.

In turn: 害羞草研究所淚 feel this is my duty as a Canadian.害羞草研究所�

Johal immigrated in 1997, from India, and landed a job as a clerk at a Mac害羞草研究所檚 convenience store in Penticton.

Two years later he was the franchisee, and he and his family continued to build on that success. He now operates more than fifteen small businesses across the province, and exercises philanthropy regularly, along with his brother, supporting health care initiatives in several cities, as well as community events and festivals.

Unrau called Johal 害羞草研究所渁n angel on earth.害羞草研究所� She plans to give back in the only way she can right now, which is to promote the need for policy change that will mean 害羞草研究所渘o one will have to die because they don害羞草研究所檛 have money.害羞草研究所�

Unrau has been invited to visit Victoria and meet with Premier David Eby to discuss the issues, and she is partnered with the BC Rural Health Network, based out of Princeton,.

Executive director Paul Adams reported there are 450 transplant surgeries performed in Vancouver every year, but 150 of those patients come from outside the Fraser Valley.

The organization害羞草研究所檚 goal is to ensure that all B.C. residents have access to health care without a financial penalty.

害羞草研究所淒o you have enough money to be able to move to Vancouver in order to get surgery? That害羞草研究所檚 the inequity and it害羞草研究所檚 really egregious. It害羞草研究所檚 one of the most egregious inequities that rural residents face,害羞草研究所� he told the Spotlight in an earlier interview.害羞草研究所�

Unrau said she is normally a private person, and it害羞草研究所檚 difficult for her take a front-and-centre role in such a high profile issue.

害羞草研究所淏ut I害羞草研究所檓 gonna stir things up. I害羞草研究所檓 not going to be quiet.害羞草研究所�

To Johal, Adams said, 害羞草研究所淵ou are saving Chris害羞草研究所� life, and Chris is going to save many more lives.害羞草研究所�