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BC  

Popping in to say thanks

It's a small way to say thank you for the greatest gift a person could ever receive, life.

This year marks the 24th year transplant recipients around the province will take a moment to say thanks to the people who make it possible for them to receive a life-saving organ transplant.

“Operation Popcorn” is an opportunity for those whose lives have been saved by organ donation to deliver festive tins of popcorn to staff in the intensive care units, emergency departments and operating rooms of donation hospitals across the province.

These are the healthcare professionals who care for organ donors and their families during times of tragedy. They don’t often have the opportunity to see the people whose lives were saved because of their work in supporting organ donation.

This year, Operation Popcorn teams will visit 25 hospitals in BC and one in the Yukon. Teams will visit Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops on Dec.1, Kelowna General and Vernon Jubilee hospitals on Dec.2 and Penticton Regional Hospital on Dec.3.

“It has been 11 years since I received a heart transplant, and I wish I could personally thank my donor," says KGH team captain Jamie Barber.

"Operation Popcorn is my favourite holiday tradition where I have the opportunity to let the health care staff know that they not only saved my life, but they have let me continue to love my family and friends, smile at people on the street, play hockey, and live life to the fullest.”

To date in 2015, there have been 88 deceased donor cases at hospitals across BC – providing the gift of life to 365 recipients.

Support for organ donation across the province continues to increase as more and more British Columbians register their decision on the Organ Donor Registry.

A recent partnership between BC Transplant and Service BC, allowing people to register at any of the 62 service BC locations, has led to a steady increase in registrations. So far this year, 38,522 British Colombians registered their decision, bringing the total registered to 961,303.



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