Organ donors and recipients are saying thank you to the Burnaby health professionals who saved their lives.
Today (Dec. 7) marked the start of BC Transplant's annual Operation Popcorn campaign at hospitals across the province, including Burnaby.
Two-time liver transplant recipient Matt Scaife has been saying thank you to the health-care professionals since 2001 through Operation Popcorn, where recipients, living donors and the families of donors deliver festive packages of popcorn in person.
"I've been so well cared for in my lifetime, and I wouldn't be here, living life to the fullest, if it weren't for all the amazing health professionals who are involved with donors and their families," Scaife says in a news release.
"They give life back to so many fortunate transplant recipients.
"Operation Popcorn is one way I can show my appreciation to the people who saved my life, twice."
The program, which has been running for 30 years, consists of popcorn being delivered to staff in hospital ICUs, emergency departments and operating rooms across B.C.
BC Transplant says the workers in these units often only get to see the tragic sides of organ donation.
"Operation Popcorn is a longstanding and heartfelt tradition shared by transplant recipients, and it serves as an excellent reminder of the need for organ donations," B.C. Minister of Health Adrian Dix said in the release.
"This year, please consider joining the heroes who have given selflessly of the greatest gift of all, the gift of life, and sign up to be an organ donor."
BC Transplant says the campaign began small with only a few hospitals but has since grown to involve 85 volunteers and popcorn deliveries to 26 hospitals across the province.
"There are more than 5,600 transplant recipients alive and thriving due to the dedicated efforts of all the caring health professionals across the province who support organ donation," BC Transplant executive director Eric Lun says.
"Thank you for supporting organ donors to make these incredible gifts of life."
Those in B.C. interested in becoming organ donors can register online.
