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.
乌鸦传媒淲e know that five donors come forward when they乌鸦传媒檙e able to put a face and a name to a story,乌鸦传媒� James told Black Press Media. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 willing to share my story, I乌鸦传媒檓 willing to be open 乌鸦传媒� and I乌鸦传媒檓 not just by myself. I乌鸦传媒檓 pointing to the group of people who are with me, who are in the same boat.乌鸦传媒�
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.
乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒� to actively recruit.
乌鸦传媒淚t feels weird asking someone for money, let alone a piece of themselves,乌鸦传媒� 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 didn乌鸦传媒檛 surprise him.
乌鸦传媒淥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,乌鸦传媒� he said.
He knew Greater Victoria residents would hear him and respond. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 how our city is.乌鸦传媒�
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. Paul乌鸦传媒檚 Hospital, one of two adult kidney transplant centres in the province.
READ ALSO:
Living donors are often related to the recipient, but they don乌鸦传媒檛 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.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 much more viable and you乌鸦传媒檙e better able to plan a little bit better,乌鸦传媒� James explained of living donations.
乌鸦传媒淚 can only have one kidney,乌鸦传媒� he noted. 乌鸦传媒淗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.乌鸦传媒�
The former Langford resident moved closer to Royal Jubilee Hospital in 2019, as dialysis takes a toll and the travel became daunting.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 not ideal but it is keeping me alive,乌鸦传媒� 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.
乌鸦传媒淢ost people do the four, three-hour runs, during the day,乌鸦传媒� he said, noting a profound impact on life, work, education and family life.
乌鸦传媒淭here are some misconceptions that you come out feeling great 乌鸦传媒� most days you feel OK. Some days you feel absolutely terrible,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淵ou乌鸦传媒檙e always grateful but it乌鸦传媒檚 not a solution.乌鸦传媒�
Learn more at or email James at ejamesYYJ@gmail.com.
christine.vanreeuwyk@blackpress.ca
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroom@vicnews.com.
Follow us on and and like us on
