Napanee, Kingston events mark 'BeADonor Month' in push to close organ donor gap

A Napanee man who survived a near-fatal heart attack and years of serious illness is now using his experience to urge others to register as organ donors.

Richard Hogan’s story is being highlighted by the Transplant Advocate Association (TAA) as part of its 'BeADonor Month' campaign, which runs throughout April and includes events across eastern Ontario.

According to a TAA release, Hogan was walking his dog on Christmas Eve in 2018 when he began to feel chest pain. What he initially dismissed as anxiety turned out to be a massive heart attack, known as a “widowmaker” caused by a blockage in a critical artery, a condition with a low survival rate without immediate treatment.

Thanks to his family calling 911, paramedics arrived quickly and rushed him to hospital.

Hogan survived, but in the years that followed, Hogan faced a series of compounding health issues, including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and heart failure. A visit to the Ottawa Heart Institute in September of 2020 left him with two options – a risky surgery to have an artificial heart pump installed, or a heart transplant. Rich chose the transplant, thinking it was his best chance at a prolonged life. 

According to the association, Hogan received a donor heart just two days after being placed on the transplant list, a turnaround that allowed him to return to daily life and be present for major family milestones, including his children’s graduations and an upcoming wedding.

Hogan has since become involved with TAA as a volunteer and board member, part of what the organization describes as a network of recipients, donors and families working to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation.

TAA notes that Hogan’s story underscores a broader issue: while public support for organ donation is high, registration rates remain comparatively low.

Ontario continues to rely on an opt-in system — a model donation advocates have long criticized as a barrier to higher registration rates.

Data from the Trillium Gift of Life Network shows that more than 90 per cent of eligible Ontarians say they support organ donation, but only about 35 per cent are formally registered.

That gap has profound consequences.

More than 1,700 people in Ontario are currently waiting for life-saving organ transplants, while thousands more are waiting for tissue donations, according to the association.

“One organ donor can save up to eight lives and enhance up to 75 others through tissue donation,” the group said in its campaign materials.

Still, many patients die waiting for a match.

The Transplant Advocate Association, a regional charity serving Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington and surrounding counties, says its work focuses on both awareness and direct support.

Members — many of whom have lived experience with transplantation — provide peer support and practical guidance to patients and families navigating the process, including what to expect before and after surgery and how to manage travel and accommodation costs.

While transplant surgeries are covered by the province, the organization notes that many associated costs are not, creating additional financial pressure for families.

Throughout April, TAA volunteers will host information booths, attend community events, and work with municipalities to promote BeADonor Month.

Flag-raising and proclamation events are planned for Napanee and Kingston on April 7, with local officials expected to attend.

April 7 also marks Green Shirt Day, a national campaign created in honour of Humboldt Broncos player Logan Boulet, whose organ donation in 2018 helped save six lives and led to a surge in donor registrations across Canada.Registering matters

Ontario operates on an opt-in system, meaning residents must actively register their consent to donate. Advocates say that can lead to confusion, with some people assuming they are already registered based on past documentation that may no longer apply.

In Ontario, registering to become an organ and tissue donor is a quick process that can be done online through BeADonor.ca registration page. You must be at least 16 years old and have a valid Ontario health card. The process takes just a couple of minutes and involves entering basic information such as your date of birth and health card number, then recording your consent through the secure ServiceOntario system. You can also check your registration status to see if it is still active.0

If you prefer, you can also register in person at a ServiceOntario location or by mailing in a consent form. Once registered, your decision is stored with the Ministry of Health, and it’s recommended that you also share your wishes with family so they can honour them when the time comes.

For Hogan, whose life depended on a donor’s decision, the message is straightforward. Registration, he says, is what turns support into action — and ultimately, into lives saved.