With a B-positive blood type, Eric James tries to make it a personal motto too while battling piling medical concerns, including needing a kidney.
The Victoria resident recently found his voice in his fifth year of energy-draining dialysis treatments.
91裸聊视频淲e know that five donors come forward when they91裸聊视频檙e able to put a face and a name to a story,91裸聊视频� James told Black Press Media. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 willing to share my story, I91裸聊视频檓 willing to be open 91裸聊视频� and I91裸聊视频檓 not just by myself. I91裸聊视频檓 pointing to the group of people who are with me, who are in the same boat.91裸聊视频�
I need a kidney transplant. I've been on dialysis for coming up on 5 years now and it is all starting to catch up to me. Please take some time to read this and share if you know anyone who would be interested.
91裸聊视频� Eric James (@ejamesYYJ)
The last couple of weeks in particular have been rough health-wise. Nearly five years of dialysis is likely the root cause of his recent mild congestive heart failure. That was the final push to finally start speaking openly and publicly about donation 91裸聊视频� to actively recruit.
91裸聊视频淚t feels weird asking someone for money, let alone a piece of themselves,91裸聊视频� he admitted.
James posted a proposition on social media Monday (Nov. 21), calling for anyone interested in live donation to contact him for more information. By Wednesday he had received and responded to dozens of messages, emails and notes of support. It didn91裸聊视频檛 surprise him.
91裸聊视频淥ne of the things I lack is a platform to share my message. I already know the people of Victoria are altruistic and usually aware of the world around them,91裸聊视频� he said.
He knew Greater Victoria residents would hear him and respond. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 how our city is.91裸聊视频�
For those who ask, he shares information from BC Transplant or gives them the living donor program phone number (1-877-922-9822) at St. Paul91裸聊视频檚 Hospital, one of two adult kidney transplant centres in the province.
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Living donors are often related to the recipient, but they don91裸聊视频檛 have to be, which is good for James. His kidney disease is hereditary. A donor can also be a friend or a member of the community.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 much more viable and you91裸聊视频檙e better able to plan a little bit better,91裸聊视频� James explained of living donations.
91裸聊视频淚 can only have one kidney,91裸聊视频� he noted. 91裸聊视频淗opefully one of these people will be the one that helps me out. But my story is the same as many on the dialysis unit who just have different faces and different names.91裸聊视频�
The former Langford resident moved closer to Royal Jubilee Hospital in 2019, as dialysis takes a toll and the travel became daunting.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not ideal but it is keeping me alive,91裸聊视频� he said.
He attends three days a week and feels fortunate the Victoria hospital has a nocturnal program. He starts dialysis at 10 p.m. and finishes at 6 a.m.
91裸聊视频淢ost people do the four, three-hour runs, during the day,91裸聊视频� he said, noting a profound impact on life, work, education and family life.
91裸聊视频淭here are some misconceptions that you come out feeling great 91裸聊视频� most days you feel OK. Some days you feel absolutely terrible,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淵ou91裸聊视频檙e always grateful but it91裸聊视频檚 not a solution.91裸聊视频�
Learn more at or email James at ejamesYYJ@gmail.com.
christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
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