Donor Family Advisory Council

Linda Rumble - Whitby

Linda Rumble has lived in Whitby with her husband and three daughters for the last fourteen years. She had always been a supporter of organ and tissue donation after having signed the donor card on the back of her driver's licence in the early eighties. On April 21, 1994, after her two-year-old nephew Stuart succumbed to head injuries, his parents consented to organ donation. His heart, liver and both kidneys were successfully transplanted. This generous act deeply touched her, and she felt compelled to do anything and everything that she could to further the cause. She believes support and recognition for the donor and donor family are of paramount importance.

Roger R. Presseault - Gloucester

Roger R. Presseault has been active in his community and workplace promoting the importance of organ and tissue donations for a number of years

In addition to promoting awareness of organ and tissue donation in his community,
Mr. Presseault also volunteers his time as a member of the Ottawa General Hospital Organ and Tissue Transplant Committee.

Mr. Presseault is a retired National Sales and Marketing Manager for Canada Post, and is also the former Chairman of the Board of Referees for the Employment Insurance Commission - Ottawa district. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Coopérative d'habitation LaFontaine Inc.

Mr. Presseault lives in Gloucester, with his wife of 23-years, Claire Gauthier, and their two children, Marc-André (20) and Sophie (17). He is a member of a donor family.

Susan Morrison-Weir - Sarnia

Sue and her husband Bill were high school sweethearts. They married in 1988 and share 2 awesome children, Alexander 7 and Victoria 5. On August 28, 1998, at the age of 33, Bill passed away unexpectedly. Sue is forever grateful for the opportunity she was given to donate Bill's organs. Bill's Gift of Life to others has become a gift to me. Something she feels strongly about has now become a passion and given her purpose.

Sue has had the privilege of being able to participate in a few of the organ and tissue donor awareness activities undertaken by the Transplant Program at London Health Sciences Centre. This including sharing my story with senior students at several high schools in London, at the dedication ceremony for the Garden of Life in downtown London and participation in the high school curriculum. She also volunteered with the Sarnia Organ Donor Awareness Group, as the Director of Education and Communication, for over 3 years.

Sue Diotte - Arnprior

On June 16, 2001, Sue Diotte's 16-year-old daughter, Sarah, was struck by a car on her way home from an end-of-school party, and tragically, was fatally injured. She was pronounced brain dead upon arrival at the local hospital in Arnprior. Sue and her two daughters, Sarah and Katie, had discussed organ and tissue donation as a family two years earlier, and all had signed their donor cards. At ages 14, and 12, Sarah and Katie proudly carried their cards with them wherever they went, and openly supported organ and tissue donation.

Then, two years later, as she watched her daughter lay dying, Sue had a chance to do something for Sarah; something she knew Sarah wanted; that would forever change the lives of four young people. Sarah would become an organ and tissue donor, at the tender age of 16, and would save and enhance the lives of others. Sarah's corneas were donated to a 2-month-old baby girl, and to a 23-year-old young man with a progressive eye disease. Sarah's heart was retrieved and her valves were used in life-saving surgery for two young people.

Out of the tragedy of losing Sarah, her family have gained a sense of peace and comfort from knowing the incredible gift this beautiful girl was able to give, and the fact that they KNEW that Sarah wanted it, has made it that much more special to them. Sarah's gift has touched the lives of her classmates and friends in Arnprior. Most of the students at Sarah's school have now signed their donor cards and are continuing to educate others about organ and tissue donation. Sarah is truly a hero... she lives on forever.

Sue speaks publicly about Sarah's gift and continues to spread the message of the Gift of Life. Sue also does public speeches for MADD on the dangers of alcohol and teenage drinking parties. A creative writing award was created in Sarah's memory, called the Yellow Butterfly Scholarship, which gives $500 yearly to a graduate of grade 12 in Sarah's high school. The Yellow Butterfly Fund also presents monetary awards to students in grades 9 - 11 for poetry writing contests. Sue's passion for young people, combined with her passion for raising awareness about organ and tissue donation keep her active in her community, as well as in the greater Ottawa area.

Michelle Kennedy-Smith and Mark Kennedy - Ottawa

In the fall of 2002, Mark and Michelle's brother Paul was tragically killed in a motor vehicle accident while working. He was only 22 years old at the time of his accident.

Their family was faced with the unimaginable - the death of their youngest member. Fortunately, Paul was able to donate eight of his organs that improved the lives of others. In essence, Paul's generosity in life also persevered in death. He was able to provide the gift of life. Although, there is a huge void in their lives, part of that void can be comforted knowing that eight different individuals; lives have been enhanced. Organ and tissue donation has touched their hearts, and has become an important issue that everyone should be conscious of. Thankfully, their family had had numerous discussions on the topic of organ and tissue donation; otherwise they would not have known Paul's wishes. Today, their goal is to create further awareness surrounding organ and tissue donation through various events, campaigns, discussion and an annual run/walk in May that honours Paul's memory.

Nancy Lee Doige and Dale Doige - Aurora

Nancy Lee Doige and Dale Doige live in Aurora, Ontario, where they developed a national education program on transplantation and organ donation for grade five through eight students. The "Gift of Life" Education Program is currently in 7,500 schools across Canada. Nancy and Dale have devoted many hours to promoting awareness of Organ Donation and Transplants, through speaking engagements at schools, on radio and television, and magazine articles, etc. Nancy has also published a story entitled "Ryan's Hope in 'Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul' and 'Conscious Women, Conscious Lives'. Nancy draws on her education in family studies at Ryerson University, her work with children in elementary schools, Dale on his years of coaching children, and both on their deeply moving experience when their son Ryan died. They are also members of the (Ontario) Trillium Gift of Life Network Donor Family Advisory Council.

Margaret Hajdinjak - Thunder Bay

I became interested in organ and tissue donation and the gift of life five years ago when my brother Terry was killed in a tragic accident. We were told that he was brain dead and as a family we decided to donate his organs. We had never thought about organ donation in the past but now we were faced with this decision to help others, and from this tragedy other families were given the gift of life. Our whole family realized the importance of the decision we made, even in our time of loss. Having Terry's life live on in some way helped us somewhat in our grief.

During the past five years our family has participated in the local "Run for Life in Thunder Bay" in memory of my brother. When I was approached to be on Council I thought this would be a good way to tell my story and keep my brother's memory alive; and create awareness of the importance of organ and tissue donation in others.

I work as an Early Childhood Educator and teach part time courses at our local college. I have been married for 28 years and have 2 great children. We have talked about organ donation with them and they both have signed their donor cards. I am honoured to be a part of the Donor Family Advisory Council and look forward to increasing awareness in our communities.

Carrie Hill - Vittoria

I am the mother of three boys, my oldest son Shaune was in a car accident three years ago that claimed his life. Shaune and I had a short conversation about organ donation as I was explaining to him what my wishes were. He told me that since he wouldn't be using his organs if he died, he would do the same. I'm sure he gave little thought again to that conversation, but a little more than 2 months later it was I making that decision for him. He had been an all Ontario high school wrestler who took great pride in his physical being. We knew how shameful it would have been not to donate all his healthy organs. Six people lived because of his gift. It helped all of our family to know this and to move forward in the process of grieving.

I have spoken at local high schools letting young people know that they need to talk about this with their families and friends. I don't know if I would have made the same decision if Shaune and I had not had that discussion. Our lives changed in everyway that day, helping others had helped in our healing.