BeADonor Month Spotlight | Barbara Longo

About Barbara Longo

Barbara Longo has recently returned to the Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) as a Clinical Informatic Project Coordinator. Prior to her retirement, Barbara was the Clinical Manager of Critical Care and Respiratory at BCHS, and the Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN) Hospital Lead.

In addition to being the recipient of the 2020 TGLN Hospital Champion Award, Barbara is also a living donor who is passionate about BeADonor Month.

What does BeADonor Month mean to you?

As a nurse, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside dedicated healthcare teams who support families in honouring the wishes of someone who registered as an organ and tissue donor. As a volunteer with the Transplant Ambassador Program, I’ve met many transplant recipients who share immense gratitude for their organ donors.

A selfless decision made by a stranger to register as an organ donor gave them a second chance to live a healthier life. As a living donor, I see every day how a decision to donate my kidney to my husband has changed his life. If it were not for that decision in 2018, there is a good chance he would still be on dialysis waiting for a deceased organ donor.

For each of these experiences, it started with a conversation and a decision to be a donor in order for someone else’s life to be saved.

Why is registering to become a donor important?

For many the waitlist is long, for others the wait is critical. It's campaigns like BeADonor month that help raise awareness about the important need for organ and tissue donation. By sharing stories like mine, it reminds people that someone they know and care about could need a transplant at some point in their lifetime.

It takes just a few minutes to register. Talk to your friends, talk to your family about your wishes and together we can and will make a difference in improving and saving the lives of those who are still waiting.

It’s important to remember that even if you register there is a very small chance that you will ever have the opportunity to donate an organ at the time of your death, however by registering you are telling those in need that you are willing to help if you can.

What are compelling donor facts that people should know?

Every 3 days someone dies waiting for a lifesaving organ, and while 90% of Ontarians support organ donation, only 35% have registered. We still need to have conversations that turn 8.4 million unregistered Ontarians into registered donors! Today in Ontario there are still approximately 1300 waiting to receive that lifesaving call. Be the person that gives others hope.

Register, check, or update your donor status at www.beadonor.ca