A Surrey woman and her family are looking for someone who can help give her a new lease of life.
Poonam Hamal is hoping to find a living kidney donor, and her youngest son has launched a campaign online and in the community in hopes of making that life-changing connection.
Hamal said she tries to keep a happy outlook while living with a difficult diagnosis.
“My blood type is B-positive,” she said with a smile. “I have to be positive.”
“I MISS SO MANY THINGS”
The 52-year-old mother of three has been on kidney dialysis since 2019 after being diagnosed with the autoimmune disease eight years earlier. The disease, known as IgA nephropathy, has no clear cause and no cure.
“After the biopsy (the doctor) told me, ‘Your kidney is gone,'” she said.
Her family says both of her kidneys have since stopped working.
“I feel weak every day,” she said. “Day by day my body is getting weaker because I am doing dialysis at home every night.”
Hamal’s son Shaurab said her illness also meant more isolation during the pandemic, which was difficult because she always enjoyed planning events for the holidays and seeing friends and family.
“It gets tough,” he said. “And it’s soul-crushing.”
He said his mother also had to quit her job working in nursing homes.
Hamal said she also longs to go and visit her elderly parents, whom she hasn’t been able to see in years.
“I missed so many things,” she said. “I want to continue to be a good person in the world, to do something good in the community.”
Hamal’s son Shaurab said his father wanted to donate, although it was not an exact match, but could not continue the process due to health issues.
THE CAMPAIGN HAS STARTED
With no donor in his immediate vicinity, the 23-year-old decided to start a campaign to expand the search.
“If I personally can’t do anything to directly help save my mother, that’s something I know. This is something I can do,” he said. “We know that the more we can raise awareness of this, the more people will see it – and potentially there could be a match for my mum and it could change her life.”
Her story is now being shared on a website called Kidney for Mom, as well as through social media and on posters.
Hamal’s son says the response has been phenomenal, with complete strangers offering their support.
Poonam also faces an additional challenge in her search as her blood type, B-positive, is not that common.
Medical director of the kidney transplant program at St. Paul’s Hospital, Dr. Jagbir Gill, said wait times tend to be longest for people with type B blood.
“The longer you spend on dialysis, even though dialysis is an excellent therapy, it takes a toll on your body,” he said. “There’s no question that the medical recommendation is the sooner you can get a transplant, the better.”
DONATION PROGRAM FOR Paired
Dr Gill said that even if someone cannot donate directly to an individual, there is a national paired donation system that can help.
“People can come in as couples and we can find another couple in the same situation where you can do a kidney swap, so to speak,” he said. “It’s certainly becoming more common for people to expand that network of people to ask and go public.”
Hamal said she is grateful to everyone who has offered to help so far. Her son encourages people to share her story in hopes of finding that one person who can make a difference.
“She is the most caring, loving and hardworking person I know,” he said, adding that they are hoping and praying that a donor can be found. “You’re saving someone’s life, you’re extending their life, and by doing that, you’re ultimately giving someone the gift of life.”
Hamal’s family said that although anyone interested can participate thanks to the matched donation program, matching blood types for her include B-positive, B-negative and O-positive and O-negative.
Those interested in learning more about becoming a Hamal donor can contact kidneydonornurse@VCH.ca or 604-875-5182.
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