Alberta woman saves 2 strangers with living organ donations: ‘She’s a hero’

Meghan Rozema, a woman from Alberta, has been hailed as a hero after saving the lives of two strangers through living organ donations. Despite having previously donated blood and encouraged her parents to do the same, Rozema took a break from donating in 2018. It was then that she learned about the opportunity for living donations, including kidneys and portions of the liver.

Initially, she considered donating a kidney to a family friend's mother but had to wait two years between surgeries. Instead, she anonymously donated her kidney to a stranger who had been on dialysis for many years. Rozema's act of kindness was motivated by the recipient's mother, her friend, with the donation being made in her honor.

Rozema is the first living donor in Alberta to have donated two organs, making her one of only a few in Canada. Cassandra Garneau, the living donor coordinator for Give Life Alberta, praised Rozema, labeling her as a "hero." The organization aims to raise awareness about the various options available for organ donation, emphasizing that donating a kidney or a piece of the liver does not hinder one's ability to live a healthy life.

Rozema joined Give Life Alberta representatives at the University of Alberta Hospital during Living Donor Awareness week, from September 13-19. While she typically avoids the spotlight, Rozema hopes that sharing her story will inspire others to consider organ donation. She acknowledges that the brief disruption in her life is well worth the life-saving impact her actions have on others.