Hockey Coach Stephen Gillis' Life Saved by His Own Team | Angel | VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation

Описание: Stephen Gillis loves hockey. The game has always been a part of his life. From his years as a player all the way through to today where he coaches young kids. He’s a mentor. A friend to many. And in 2018, he nearly lost his life.

“I’ve lived with Crohn’s disease for many years and when I became really sick, I thought it was my Crohn’s acting up,” says Stephen. “It was a shock to find out I developed a rare form of kidney disease and lost over 90 per cent of my kidney function. A kidney transplant from a living donor was my only option.”

When the kids he coaches found out about Stephen’s health, they rallied behind their coach and created a video, asking anyone who was watching to get tested and see if they were a match. The video took the hockey world by storm and went viral. In the days that followed, an old friend of Stephen’s, Michael Teigen, saw it and decided to get tested.

With a donor now available, Dr. David Harriman, transplant urologist at VGH, had a chance to save Stephen’s life.

“My medical team was amazing and the technology was cutting-edge,” says Stephen. “The young people I coach are exceptional, and Michael is the friend everyone should have. Yet it’s because of donors that VGH was able to save my life.”

It took a community to save Stephen’s life. It was his angels: from the kids he coached and the remarkable friend who gave an incredibly selfless and life-changing gift, to the health care experts who cared for both of them.

Read his full story and donate today to honour your angel: https://bit.ly/30quVye