Regina woman turns to social media to find donor match for kidney transplant

A Regina woman currently waiting for a kidney transplant is now seeking a donor through a social media post.

In 2023, Kelsey Dasko lost much of her kidney function which eventually led to her being put on a waiting list for a transplant.

Dasko is now on dialysis daily, altering her quality of life.

“When you’re not working and you’re not doing much, people don’t understand and that’s been a really tough pill to swallow,” she explained.

“It’s been tough on me mentally not to live life like the rest of my peers my age,” she added.

Dasko, 27, has been a Type 1 diabetic for the majority of her life. Both her mother and grandmother also suffered from kidney failure, which may point to a genetic condition.

Kristin Theis-Novak, an organ and tissue coordinator at the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) said there is always a need for organ donations.

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“The demand is always higher than what we have available for organs. On average in Canada, 250 people die while waiting for organs. The demand is high ultimately and never low,” said Theis-Novack.

According to the SHA, there are 50 to 60 people waiting for a kidney transplant at any given time.

For the time being, Dasko is going to continue keeping up with her dialysis and making healthy choices while awaiting her transplant date.

“I’m going to get that transplant and I’m manifesting good things,” she said.