Family trumpets organ and tissue donation as the best gift you could give

There are few gifts better to give or receive than the gifts of life. That’s the message being offered by one Morinville family whose patriarch is celebrating his fifth anniversary with his donated lungs.

Morris Irvine, 69, struggled for much of his life with breathing problems and required oxygen in the years preceding his successful transplant.

Now the rancher is back in the saddle, looking great and his 14-year-old grandson Cooper Pirtle has picked up the trumpet to encourage more people to consider making organ donations themselves.

“It’s really important,” he said. “It means a lot to have my grandpa still here. It means a lot that that family gave whoever’s lungs to him so he could have a second chance.”

Irvine isn’t taking that second chance for granted. The father of six, grandfather of 23, and great-grandfather of eight has been using his new lease on life to join his grandson in telling more people about organ transplants.

“I am forever grateful to my donor family,” he said. “I am so proud of all of my family for feeling the same sense of gratitude. Cooper has seen me unable to attend any of his hockey games and horse events and now I can share with him my passion to drive horses and fish – what a grandpa should do.”

He has also become very active with a charity effort called the 2nd Chance Trail Ride.

“We started this organization because I’m living proof organ donation works and I know it needs more awareness. I know it takes a simple conversation and the easy process to sign your donor card now needs to be known. Any transplant is a second chance at life and I want those people on a waiting list to have the same second chance I got,” Irvine said.

“You’re around a lot of family and friends, and it’s really important to have this conversation with your family so they know what you want done,” Cooper added.

“I could not be more proud of my son. Cooper is encouraging people to start a difficult conversation with their loved ones about what their wishes are for their tissues and organs after they die. It’s not an easy conversation to have, but it’s one that could save the lives of many people like my dad,” included Arla Pirtle.

“My dad has been such an inspiration. This whole process is something we can all say has been a life changer.”

The 2nd Chance event is a fundraising horse ride to support those going through the organ transplant process and to heighten awareness of organ and tissue donation. The sixth annual event takes place on May 13, 2017. Visit www.2ndctr.com for more information.

Irvine added that he’s been able to ride and drive his horses since he got his new lungs in 2011. He’s also been in several parades and will be taking part in the 2nd Chance event.

“I promote organ and tissue donor awareness wherever I go,” he said. He’s practically the living embodiment of awareness. “I broke a new team this spring. I feel pretty good.”

He added that it all starts with having a simple conversation with your family to talk about your wishes. After that, registering those wishes is just as easy: sign your donor card or visit www.ultimategiftalberta.ca for information.

“Cooper and his family are testaments to how such a simple act of filling out a form can save a life. It’s an inspiring story, but also a challenging one,” stated St. Albert MLA Marie Renaud, on behalf of minister Sarah Hoffman.

“We’ve had tremendous uptake on the registry, but everyone who wants to be a donor also needs to sit down with their loved ones and talk about their decision.”