Winnipeg firefighter donating kidney to fellow firefighter
Two firefighting friends in Winnipeg will fight a different kind of battle together as one gives the other a much-needed organ.
More than 10 years ago, firefighter Kyle Schmidt was hospitalized and was diagnosed with a kidney disease called IgA Nephropathy. Two years ago, he found out he needs a new kidney.
"I am on dialysis; my kidneys don't work,” Schmidt said in an interview with CTV News. “It’s hard to fathom that for most people. But, overall, I think I'm okay."
The news that Schmidt needed a new kidney made its way to Russ Reimer’s Steinbach fire station. Reimer was standing around the water cooler when his co-workers broke the news of Schmidt's illness.
"I turned around immediately and I said, ‘my Kyle Schmidt?'" Reimer said in an interview with CTV News.
The pair both are Winnipeg firefighters, and have known each other since 2012 through other firefighting work. Reimer said he had recently seen Schmidt and did not know his kidneys were not working.
Reimer immediately picked up his phone and texted Schmidt.
"I just said right away, like instantly I hadn't checked with my wife or nobody, I said, ‘well man, I'd give you my kidney'."
Schmidt shared information with Reimer on how to sign up.
"It was sort of classic fireman style where it’s like barge in there and just OK, can we go this afternoon?"
Schmidt and Reimer began the process but, during the pandemic, donation operations slowed.
In 2021, there were 15 living kidney donor transplants - eight fewer than the pre-pandemic average.
"It would have been nice to get done a year ago, but with COVID it just wasn't a reality,” Schmidt said.
Despite the wait, Schmidt says health-care workers helped him keep working as an inspector and allowed him to work on his post-secondary education.
"This whole thing is having hope. There is light at the end of the tunnel."
On Thursday, the two will go under the knife for the transplant surgery, exactly one month after Reimer got the call saying the surgery date was set.
Now, Schmidt wants others to register to donate their organs.
"We could be saving so many more lives with organ donation.”
Transplant Manitoba tells CTV News that, as of Tuesday morning, close to 61,000 Manitobans had registered to be organ donors.
Manitobans looking to donate can go to signupforlife.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
ArriveCan contractor to be admonished by MPs in extraordinarily rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.