Living Transplant: Patient Stories | Organ Donation | Medical Experts Podcast By Living Transplant: Patient Stories | Organ Donation | Medical Experts with Candice Coghlan. Supported by the Ajmera Transplant Centre Toronto General Hospital UHN cover art

Living Transplant: Patient Stories | Organ Donation | Medical Experts

Living Transplant: Patient Stories | Organ Donation | Medical Experts

By: Living Transplant: Patient Stories | Organ Donation | Medical Experts with Candice Coghlan. Supported by the Ajmera Transplant Centre Toronto General Hospital UHN
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Living Transplant: Patient Stories | Organ Donation | Medical Experts is a podcast that takes you behind the scenes at the transplant program at Toronto General Hospital with the goal to educate, inspire and fuel your passion about transplant, with your host, Candice Coghlan, an Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre and a kidney transplant recipient.669196 Biological Sciences Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Science
Episodes
  • A Toddler Transplant: How Daddy's Liver Saved Camilla's Life | Patient Stories, Organ Donation and Medical Experts

    A Toddler Transplant: How Daddy's Liver Saved Camilla's Life | Patient Stories, Organ Donation and Medical Experts
    Feb 5 2026

    In this heartwarming episode of the Living Transplant podcast, we welcome Bianca and Joseph to share the incredible journey of their daughter, Camilla. Initially born healthy, Camilla’s persistent jaundice led to a life-changing diagnosis of biliary atresia at just four weeks old. After a failed Kasai procedure, the family was thrust into survival mode at SickKids Hospital, facing the terrifying reality that their infant daughter needed a liver transplant to survive. Joseph recounts the emotional process of becoming his daughter’s living donor, transforming a time of immense fear into a story of profound sacrifice and paternal love.

    

    The couple opens up about the unique challenge of having two family members in surgery simultaneously and the unforgettable relief of their reunification during recovery. Now nearly three years post-transplant, Camilla is a thriving toddler, hitting every milestone. Bianca discusses how they navigate “mom guilt,” the importance of normalizing Camilla’s transplant scar, and the vital role of the “poop chart” in early diagnosis. Their story is a testament to the resilience of families, the power of advocacy, and the miracle of organ donation.


    Connect with the Podcast or Learn more about Organ Donation

    Click here for more information about living organ donation.

    Click here for more information about living kidney transplantation.

    Click here for more information about Polycystic Kidney Disease.

    Ajmera Transplant Centre on Instagram


    Each episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.


    About our Host

    Candice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.


    Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.


    The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.
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    54 mins
  • Reimagining Healthcare: Advocacy, Equity, and Dignity with Kamika Sylvester, RN

    Reimagining Healthcare: Advocacy, Equity, and Dignity with Kamika Sylvester, RN
    Jan 22 2026

    In this powerful episode of The Living Transplant Podcast, host Candice Coghlan is joined by Kamika Sylvester, RN — nurse, patient advocate, nonprofit founder, and tech entrepreneur — for a deeply honest conversation about racism in healthcare, patient advocacy, and reimagining what truly equitable care can look like. Kamika shares her journey as a patient first, navigating a life-altering diagnosis at just 18 years old, and how that experience shaped her path into nursing, advocacy, and systems change. Together, Candice and Kamika unpack why mistrust exists in healthcare for many racialized communities, how bias and burnout impact both patients and providers, and why dignity and listening must be at the centre of care.


    Listeners will also learn Kamika’s practical ABCDs of Advocacy, a simple but powerful framework to help patients and families navigate complex healthcare systems with confidence:


    A – Adjust your attitude

    B – Bring backup

    C – Have concise conversations

    D – Keep detailed documentation


    The conversation also explores:

    • Why representation in healthcare teams matters for patient outcomes
    • How burnout affects healthcare providers — especially those from racialized communities
    • What real cultural safety looks like beyond “checkbox” training
    • How healthcare leaders, providers, and allies can use their privilege to create meaningful change
    • What a truly inclusive, reimagined healthcare system could look like
    • This episode is essential listening for patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and anyone committed to building a more just, compassionate, and equitable healthcare system.


    Links

    Centre for Living Organ Donation

    Ajmera Transplant Centre

    Code Melanin – Supporting Black, Indigenous, and racialized healthcare professionals and addressing burnout

    The Black Birth Project – Advancing equity in maternal and birth outcomes

    Green Table Talk (ACB Organ Health Committee) – Community conversations on organ health and equity


    Each episode, we share patient stories about organ donation from transplant recipients and living donors, along with insights and education from leading medical experts. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, a donor, or simply curious about the world of organ transplantation, you’ll hear expert advice and inspiring journeys of hope, resilience, and second chances.


    About our Host

    Candice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a board member for the National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient. After she was diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, she was on dialysis until receiving a transplant from her mother.


    Have questions? Comments? Ideas for an episode? Please reach out to the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.ca. Thanks for spending your time with us.


    The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General or University Health Network.
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    53 mins
  • “I See You”: Indigenous Kidney Health, Cultural Safety, and Reimagining Care

    “I See You”: Indigenous Kidney Health, Cultural Safety, and Reimagining Care
    Jan 8 2026
    In this powerful episode of The Living Transplant Podcast, host Candice Coghlan is joined by Crystal Hardy, a First Nations patient, researcher, and advocate whose lived experience with dialysis and kidney transplantation deeply informs her work in Indigenous kidney health.Crystal shares her journey through kidney failure, dialysis, and transplant — not just as a patient navigating a complex healthcare system, but as a researcher working to transform it. She reflects on the moment she realized that life on dialysis could still be full of purpose, the importance of feeling seen within healthcare, and how cultural safety, trust, and community connection directly impact health outcomes.Together, Candice and Crystal explore the systemic barriers First Nations patients face, including geographic isolation, under-referral for transplant, cultural mismatch in care, and inadequate navigation and relocation supports. Crystal introduces the Indigenous Kidney Health Project, explaining how Indigenous storywork and the Two-Eyed Seeing framework are being used to identify gaps in kidney care and reimagine more equitable, culturally congruent systems.This episode is a moving, insightful conversation about advocacy, food sovereignty, patient partnership, and hope — and a reminder that kidney care must meet people where they are, honour who they are, and listen to the stories they carry.What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow Crystal’s lived experience as a dialysis and transplant patient shaped her research and advocacyWhy feeling seen and heard is foundational to culturally safe kidney careThe real-world barriers First Nations patients face when accessing dialysis and transplantationWhy Indigenous patients are referred for transplant significantly less often — and what needs to changeWhat the Indigenous Kidney Health Project is and why patient voices lead the workHow Two-Eyed Seeing blends Indigenous knowledge with biomedical researchThe role of food sovereignty and traditional foods in kidney healthWhy connection, purpose, and peer support are essential on the kidney journeyHow healthcare systems can move from “cultural training” to truly individualized, respectful careKey TakeawaysKidney disease is a lifelong journey — transplantation is not a cure, but a transitionCultural safety is not a checklist; it is built through trust, listening, and relationshipsGeography and relocation create profound inequities in access to kidney careIndigenous patients must be partners and leaders in research about their careFood, culture, language, and community are inseparable from health outcomesPurpose and peer connection can be life-sustaining during dialysis and transplant journeysSystemic change is possible — and already beginning — when patients are centeredNotable Quotes“I was my own best case study.”“I see you.”“You can’t reform the system if you don’t know what people are actually living through.”“Transplant isn’t a cure — it’s a different way of living with care.”About the GuestCrystal N. Hardy is a First Nations kidney patient, researcher, and advocate whose work focuses on Indigenous kidney health, cultural safety, and equitable access to transplantation. Drawing from her own experiences with dialysis and transplant, Crystal leads research that centers Indigenous voices, storywork, and patient partnership to address systemic gaps in kidney care.If you are a First Nations patient, caregiver, or healthcare provider interested in supporting or participating in the Indigenous Kidney Health Project, Crystal welcomes connection, please reach out to cnhardy@lakeheadu.ca About the HostCandice Coghlan is the Education & Outreach Coordinator at the Centre for Living Organ Donation at the UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre. She is also a kidney transplant recipient and board member of the National Kidney Foundation. Diagnosed with kidney failure in her early 20s, Candice spent time on dialysis before receiving a living donor kidney transplant from her mother.Resources & LinksLearn more about living organ donation: www.livingorgandonation.caLiving Kidney Donation at UHN: UHN Ajmera Transplant CentreLiving with Kidney Disease Thunder Bay Event Recording: Living with Kidney DiseaseCrystal Hardy Story 1:49:56CanSOLVE CKD Indigenous People’s Engagement & Research CouncilGet In TouchHave questions, comments, or ideas for a future episode?Email the Centre for Living Organ Donation at livingorgandonation@uhn.caDisclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Toronto General Hospital or the University Health Network.
    Show more Show less
    44 mins
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