Christine McNaughton is in need of a kidney donor

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MANITOULIN—Tehkummah’s Christine McNaughton needs a new kidney and is reaching out to any and all who could be a match. On September 3, 2024, she had a stroke, and it was while in hospital she was made aware that she also had kidney disease. She was stage III when it was first discovered and now, two years later, she is at stage V in the disease with dialysis being a constant in her life.

In the spring of last year, “I ended up going for emergency dialysis and I was on hemodialysis for over a year,” Ms. McNaughton explained, “and it was helping me, but the hemodialysis was so hard on my body. I’d have to go to Little Current from Tehkummah three times a week and for five hours in the chair. So, that’s like a whole day three times a week. I would always feel really sick after because my blood pressure would drop really low.”

After over a year of hemodialysis, a different approach was initiated this spring. “We decided to try something else,” Ms. McNaughton said. “I started peritoneal dialysis so I could do the dialysis at home. And that I do every single night for eight hours while I’m sleeping. It’s easier on the body, and I don’t really notice it. (The process is) hard to explain, but anyway, I have my days back because I’m not in a chair for five hours a day, three days a week.”

A nurse and a paramedic alternate visits five days each week. “They do basic check-ins to check my vitals and see where I’m at. The program has been really, really good because they’ve caught infections without me having to go to emerg. I’m so thankful for the healthcare that we receive on the Island,” Ms. McNaughton said.

Before her stroke, before kidney disease, Ms. McNaughton had more energy than most and she used it in positive, uplifting ways. “I was go, go, go,” she said with a laugh. “I was a volunteer. I was a mentor for the robotics team (MSS). I was catering and teaching cooking classes. And now, I’m not able to do all that.” Still, with her ‘Life on Manitoulin’ Facebook page, she manages to promote and uplift entrepreneurs, local businesses, events and community members. She continues to be busy, but in a different way.

Now, she’s turning to the community for help. She needs a kidney, but she advises, “To be a donor, you need to be healthy enough. No diabetes, high blood pressure, and no history of kidney disease. I think that among my siblings, I’m the only one with kidney disease, but on both sides of my family, there’s diabetes, high blood pressure and all that stuff,” Ms. McNaughton explains. “My nephrologist did say the best chance for a donor would be a blood relative, but if my brothers and other family members have these issues, then it’s not a good choice.”

For those wishing to help, Ms. McNaughton stresses, “The first thing that people would need to do is visit their family physician and get an overall medical checkup to make sure that they’re healthy enough to donate. Then there are a series of tests.”

The issue of financial reimbursement for a living donor was discussed and, in Ontario, there’s a provincial program which covers eligible out-of-pocket costs like travel, parking, meals, accommodation, as well as loss of income for living organ donors. The Kidney Foundation website gives donors all the information they need.

“Since that post on Facebook was made, I’ve had three people saying that they are going to get tested to see if they can donate. Two of them are from Sudbury, and I don’t know them at all. One of them reached out to me from Instagram, and the other one on Facebook,” Ms. McNaughton said. “I was really shocked, because I have no clue who these people are, but they saw the poster circulating. I cried,” she said. “Dialysis isn’t horrible, like this type of dialysis, but let’s face it, it’s just keeping me alive.”

What does Ms. McNaughton plan to do once she gets her new kidney? “As soon as I get these tubes out, the first thing I want to do is go swimming,” she said.

If you can help Ms. McNaughton, if your doctor gives you the okay, go to where all your questions about the process will be answered or reach out to Ms. McNaughton’s health team via [email protected].

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