‘Thank you for my life’: Canadians honoured for their work on organ transplants – CBC
Simon Keith and Dr. Lori West appointed to Order of Canada in recent years
Jan 05, 2023
After Simon Keith received a heart transplant in the 1980s, he went on to a successful career as a professional soccer player — something unheard of at the time.
Now he’s been appointed to the Order of Canada for his charity work helping other young transplant patients embrace healthy, active and fulfilling lives.
“Once you’re transplanted, it’s this celebration and this rebirth and this new life. And then … you’re sitting in your living room, you’re like, ‘Holy cow, now what do we do?'” said Keith, who was among 99 new appointments announced by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon last week.
“My job is to say, let’s go party, what do you want to do? You want to go swimming, you want to go play the drums, you want to go hike? Let’s do that,” he told The Current’s Matt Galloway.
The former athlete founded the Simon Keith Foundation in 2012, to advocate for organ donation and provide financial support to young transplant recipients. Keith said he often meets parents who wonder how active their children can be post-transplant — and are astounded at the quality of life that can be safely achieved.
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/order-of-canada-organ-donor-1.6703799
