My Experience at the 2018 Bakken Invitation
January 9th, my husband and I landed in the stunning, warm Kona, Hawaii to embrace an experience that changed our lives. I have the honour of being named a 2018 Bakken Invitation honouree. The Medtronic Foundation program honours 12 individuals from around the world who have overcome significant health challenges and now dedicate the “extra life” we’ve been given – thanks in part to medical technology – to drive positive change in our communities. This year, we were honoured to meet Eduardo (Brazil), Giovanna (Italy), Amber (USA), Komal (India), Christine (Uganda), George (Tanzania), YonWoo (South Korea), Roland (United Kingdom), Ashley (Australia), Dan (Romania), Rui (China) and their partners, friends and family. You can read each of their profiles here.
I was honoured for the work I have done with my "extra life". I was a crash start onto dialysis in 2008, with no prior knowledge to my hereditary kidney disease. Within 24 hours I started hemodialysis and stayed in centre for three weeks to stabilise. Once I returned home, I dialyzed 5hrs in centre, three times a week. After receiving education about different modality options, I decided to have another surgery so I could do peritoneal dialysis at home. I did peritoneal dialysis in my bed while I slept for eight hours a night. During that time, my mother was worked up to see if she could be my kidney donor. With many trips to St. Joseph's Hamilton transplant appointments, stress tests, cancer tests, ultrasounds, blood work, she found out she was a match!
My mom gave me life twice.
The transplant gave me the opportunity to obtain my University degree, get married in Dominican Republic, purchase our first home and travel the world.
I have been given a second chance at life, so I dedicate my time to working towards ensuring every person has access to the best quality healthcare and quality of life they deserve. I have been privileged to work for amazing organizations such as the Kidney Foundation of Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society. In 2015, I began working for Bracelet of Hope with a remarkable team in Canada and Lesotho, we work to build sustainable communities for orphans victimised by a generation lost to HIV & AIDS in Lesotho, Africa.
December 2017, I was approached by the Transplant Ambassador Program (TAP) and asked to be the Provincial Coordinator for a research program that connects kidney donors and kidney recipients to people living with kidney disease and kidney failure to break down barriers and provide mentorship and hope to patients and families in 26 renal hospitals across Ontario. Our goal is to increase living kidney donation in Ontario by 20% by 2021 by providing patients and families access to education, mentorship and support in navigating the complex renal healthcare system. Since January 2018, we have had over 65 donors and recipients dedicate their time and knowledge to have over 1600 meaningful interactions with patients and families.
These steps forward have all brought me to a place where I was sent the Bakken Invitation application by a friend, and had the courage to apply. After a rigorous application form, and video conference interview, I was ecstatic to receive the notice that I was to be honoured with 11 others chosen out of over 200 who applied. As part of Bakken Invitation 2018 program, this year’s honourees convened for a multi-day retreat to connect with other advocators, innovators and volunteers from around the world and participate in leadership and development opportunities. It was an inspiring few days and I returned home with new skills to help me drive even greater positive change in our community.
Within a short time with the other honourees, we bonded over the difficulties we have faced in our lives, but also the joy we have found in the "extra life" we have been given. We had many tears, but many more laughs. We will take away inside jokes of Kevin Costner, Waterworld, pot belly pigs and beautiful moments at a luau with music, dance and food. Each of us has such a passion and drive to change around the world and just being in their presence has lit a fire in me to be that change.
I learned so much about myself, how to build confidence, create meaningful relationships, to appreciate others for their differences, and see those differences as opportunities for learning. We had the opportunity to travel to three of Earl Bakken's philanthropic passions; the Voyaging Canoe Makali'i, Tutu's House and the North Hawaii Community Hospital. Through the workshops and trips to the canoe, community centre and hospital, I learned a few key messages to take home:
- Find your "chapel". Each morning Earl Bakken would sit in his garden, which he called his chapel and take a few moments to enjoy the beauty and peace of the flowers and plants. He used that moment to propel him in his day.
- Spend more time in nature. Nature has such a beautiful way of healing. In each patient room at the hospital, there are sliding glass doors so the patients can have access to be outside at any moment. Healing happens through supporting patient centered care for the mind, body, and soul.
- Small changes can create great difference. When visiting the hospital, we learned that there is a warm crockpot full of face towels. Every day, front line staff and patients are given a warm face towel with essential oils dropped on it to place on their face to breathe in, and create a small moment of calm.
- He waa he moku, he moku he waa - The canoe is our island, our island is our canoe. There are finite resources on a voyaging canoe, as well as an island, as well as our planet. How can we be good environmental stewards, but also how can we work together as a community to best steer our canoe/world in the right direction.
I am so grateful for this opportunity to connect with others and learn new skills to further my mission to provide the best quality healthcare and quality of living for others. The award ceremony was an evening filled with magic. As we walked into the room, there was a tunnel of people on each side of us clapping and cheering for us. It was truly beautiful to get to hear everyone's inspirational stories. I am so grateful to Earl Bakken and all of the medical interventions that exist to have given these remarkable people their "extra life". Thank you so much to Earl Bakken, his family, friends and the Medtronic Foundation.
Award recipients (from left to right): YongWoo, Giovanna, Christine, Dan, Kumal, Eduardo, Candice, George, Adam, Roland, Amber, Ashley.
Below is my acceptance speech at the Bakken Award Ceremony. Again, thank you so much to Earl Bakken, friends and family and the Medtronic Foundation.
To learn more about the Bakken Invitation and this year’s honourees, visit www.liveongiveon.org and see highlights from the event on the Medtronic Foundation’s Facebook and Twitter.
