Where others might see adversity, Jacqueline finds silver linings.

Jacqueline discovered she had kidney disease through a random blood test. When she was at the point of needing a transplant, her husband/hero Chris donated through the Kidney Paired Exchange so she could get the kidney she needed.

Tragically, it became apparent she was chronically rejecting the new kidney and would need another transplant. Lucky enough to have received one kidney, the chances of finding a second seemed insurmountable. But it did happen and she got a second transplant in February 2018 from her sister Kathy, another hero, also through the paired exchange.

That kidney too was rejected. It turns out that Jacqueline will never be able to maintain a transplant – after much ordeal, she was finally diagnosed with the help of the LA Research Centre of having Antiendothelial Cell Disorder.

Because of her diagnosis, funding is now available to test for this disorder and nobody will have to go through the same ordeals she did.

 “I believe I went through all this so I could educate . . . I focus on the extra time I was given by those 2 transplants. I focus on living in the now and making sure to see the miracles, blessings and joy in the day.”

 Jacqueline and Chris are photographed here at the 8th annual Vancouver Kidney Gala.