Regina woman awaiting double lung transplant hopes to increase organ donors

A Saskatchewan government committee is lookingat how the province can get higher organ donation rates.

Saskatchewan is below average when compared to other provinces.

Less than one per cent of people who die in Saskatchewan donate an organ or tissue.

On Tuesday, thecommittee heard from its first presenterCharlotteL'Oste-Brown. She's beenawaiting a double lung transplant.

"Saskatchewan is a province of giving and when I started looking into stats, I try and get the best stats I can when I go out to public speak. I was very shocked when I found out it was less than one per cent," saidL'Oste-Brown.

The 61-year-old suffers from anauto-immune disease called polymyositis. Itattacked her lungs and shedeveloped pulmonary fibrosis. In 2014, doctors told her she needed a double lung transplant. She's been waiting ever since.

"I've been told there have been no organs my size that have even come in," L'Oste-Brown said.

• Saskatchewan below national average for organ donations

Opt-in or opt-out

Saskatchewan has an opt-in organ and tissue donation system.People who wish to donate organs have to have a sticker on their health card. But L'Oste-Brown said when she speaks to people in the province many don't know about the sticker or have put it off.

"I do feel it has to be easier than what we are doing now because obviously the donor cards we're not taking and putting that sticker on our health card. I'm suggesting we use that as our guide on how to better the system."

Other countries like Brazil and Spain have presumed consent or an opt-out system and have two to three times the number of donors.

One organ donor can save up to eight lives.

Recommendations a few weeks away

The standing committee of human services is holding meetings at the Legislative Building this week and next week in Saskatoonto see how to increase the rate of organ donation and improve the effectiveness of the organ and tissue donation program in Saskatchewan.

It will make recommendations to the government by the end of November.