Heart-transplant recipient Cheryl Olson shows her support for the Green Shirt Day campaign to benefit organ donation, and honour the memory of Logan Boulet. (Submitted photo/Cheryl Olson)

By Angela Brown

Showing Support

Advocate encourages support for organ donation campaign

Apr 7, 2020 | 5:08 PM

Cheryl Olson owes her life to organ donation.

If two individuals had not donated their organs before they died, she would not be alive today.

“[Organ donation] has saved my life twice now,” the North Battleford woman said.

Olson received two heart transplants – the first about 20 years ago after suffering a serious virus, and the second in 2008 after her first transplant was chronically rejected. Today she is healthy and thriving as a result of another’s gift.

The North Battleford wife and mother is a strong advocate for organ donation. On Tuesday she donned a green shirt among many other supporters across Canada for the Green Shirt Day campaign recognizing Logan Boulet, who died in hospital following the Humboldt Broncos collision in April, 2018. He signed his donor card shortly before his death.

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Six people in Canada benefitted from Boulet’s donation. The day also raises awareness of the importance of organ donation. In what has become known as the Logan Boulet Effect, according to Canadian Blood Services, close to 150,000 donor registrations across Canada were received shortly after Boulet’s death.

Olson hopes more people will consider registering to become an organ donor.

“It’s really important for people to talk to their families about organ donation,” she said. “Let them know what your wishes are, if you were ever in the position to be an organ donor.”

“If [the family] knows the person’s wishes already, I want to hope it makes things easier for the family when that topic comes up for them,” she added.

Organ donation saves many lives, she said, just as it saved hers.

“It’s been over 20 years now,” Olson said. “I’ve been able to see my children grow up. My husband and I will be celebrating 30 years of marriage this year, and my daughter just got married. It’s a wonderful life, and I have been here to appreciate every day because of organ donation.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow