"I feel beyond blessed to have come this far."

Patient reflects on her health-care journey as she celebrates an incredible milestone

February 4, 1999 was a day that changed Sue Baynham’s life forever. After 17 long months on dialysis, Sue received the call that she’d been waiting for; she was getting a kidney-pancreas transplant. However, Sue’s journey began long before that at the former Oshawa General Hospital.

In 1976 at the age of 10, Sue was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes – a disease that occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin.

“About a year after being diagnosed, I went to a camp for children with diabetes where I learned how to do my own injections and testing, which was really good for me,” recalled Sue. “But as I got a bit older and started going out with friends more, I was really not controlling my diabetes, which led me to get very sick.”

After being hospitalized in 1986 with extremely high sugars, Sue became more diligent about her diabetes; weighing all her food meticulously and keeping up with her testing. However, when Sue fell ill again in 1997, it was determined that she needed a kidney-pancreas transplant.

In the interim, Sue started on peritoneal dialysis at the Oshawa General Hospital – a journey that would end up being 17-months long. Nevertheless, Sue didn’t let it stop her from living life to the fullest. “My life was really good,” said Sue. “I continued to work and just carried my dialysis with me everywhere I went in a little cooler. I never let it stop me.”

Looking back, Sue attributes much of her positive experience on dialysis to her care team. “I still remember my nurse Emily, and my doctors, Dr. Otegbola Ojo and Dr. George Buldo,” recalled Sue. “My entire care team was absolutely amazing, and I really loved them all. Everyone was so nice and caring, and they always explained everything thoroughly. I really did have the best experience at the Oshawa Hospital.”

But finally on the morning of February 4, 1999, as she was getting ready for work, Sue got a call from the Multiple Organ Retrieval and Exchange (MORE) program and was advised to head to Toronto General Hospital where her transplant would be performed. After a successful eight-hour surgery, Sue was moved to recovery and was later discharged after 10 days in hospital.

Fast forward to February 2024, Sue just celebrated the 25^th anniversary of her transplant. “It really is hard to believe that it’s been 25 years,” expressed Sue. “I wasn’t expecting it to last this long, and I feel beyond blessed to have come this far.”

On average, a kidney-pancreas transplant lasts between 12 to 15 years – a timeline that Sue has far surpassed.

“Sue’s story is a testament to the life-saving effects of organ donation, and the amazing care that our dialysis teams provide on a daily basis,” said Sandy Thompson, Patient Care Manager, Home and Nephrologist Clinics. “This is an incredible milestone, and Lakeridge Health is honoured to have played a role in Sue’s remarkable journey over the past 25 years.”