Sherwood Park woman becomes Alberta's only double living organ donor

Meghan Rozema of Sherwood Park is the only person in Alberta to have donated two organs while still alive, making her one of a handful of double living donors across Canada.

Rozema donated part of her liver in 2021 and a kidney two years later, both to strangers. The liver went to a baby who likely would not have seen their first birthday without the transplant. The kidney donation was made in honour of a family friend's mother, who passed away before Rozema could donate to her.

Rozema decided to become a donor in 2020 after seeing a Facebook post from a man seeking a kidney. She approached Give Life Alberta about donating a kidney, but was told she could also donate part of her liver if she did that first. The larger recovery from liver donation intimidated her, but after seeing a social media post in 2018 about parents of a baby in need of a transplant, she solidified her decision. "So what solidified my decision to donate part of my liver is putting myself in the parents' shoes of that little baby who would die without this transplant," she said.

After the liver donation, Rozema had to wait two years before the kidney surgery. When the family friend's mother became ill, Rozema intended to give her the kidney, but the woman passed away before the two-year recovery window closed. Instead, Rozema anonymously donated to a stranger who had been on dialysis for many years.

More than 500 Albertans are currently waiting for life-saving transplants; 400 Canadians nationwide specifically need a new kidney. Rozema joined Give Life Alberta representatives at University of Alberta Hospital this week as part of Living Donor Awareness week, which runs September 13-19. "It's an honor and also, it's unfortunate that I am the only one," Rozema said. Cassandra Garneau, Give Life Alberta, called Rozema "a hero, multiple times over," noting that "she made that extraordinary decision to help two people, and in her case, complete strangers." According to Garneau, "You can donate a kidney or a piece of your liver and still live a healthy life." Rozema reflected on her own recovery: "For me, my life went on. I was able to exercise again. I was able to enjoy my kid's activities."