| We at Can-Am Recycling have been partners with the kidney foundation of Canada for around five years. Donors phone toll free 1-800-585-4479 to have a pickup time arranged and a tow company is dispatched to pick up the donated vehicle. The tow operator has the donor sign the paperwork and is left a tax receipt-with an official tax receipt to follow. We have gone from just a few cars being donated a year to over 3000 in 2006.
 
My husband and I donated two vehicles to the Kidney Car program, a very old Van and a Motor Home both had many happy memories of camping throughout the Pacific Northwest but the time had come and what better way to end their usefulness than to donate them to a good cause.  
Three years ago our son Dan, 34 became very ill with what turned out to be kidney disease and very quickly went into renal failure. There were many ups and downs during this period, the family was devastated by this and we all looked at our options as to who could be a kidney donor. I was almost 63, in good health so as Dan's mother I wanted to do this for him. I must say I was a little scared at the thought of any side affects living with one kidney, but what the heck Dan had no kidneys that were working and he certainly didn't want to be on dialysis forever.
After much testing of family members Dan and I were a perfect match. The operation was performed in Oct 2005 at St. Paul's hospital and it appeared to be a success. We would like to add that the staff at St Paul's were just wonderful.
Three months later during the holiday season we were told the kidney was failing. Not good news. My son was told he had FSGS (focal segmental sclerosis) and there was no quick fix as this would happen to any other new kidney. He was back on dialysis at the Port Moody Clinic, four times a week and feeling very tired and down.
Dan eventually started the training program for home dialysis as this would give him more freedom. With some modifications to our home and the installation of the equipment needed he moved back home in Jan of 2007.
Things are going reasonably well but much adjustment of his life still needs to be made in the future re job training, and motivation to try more physical activity so Dan can get his life back to having some sense of accomplishment and look towards a better future.
We are indebted to the Kidney Foundation for supplying and installing the home dialysis equipment, all the supplies and any support or technical help when needed. The Kidney Car program is one way that people can help.
Thank you
Dan's mom
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