Daniel's Chronic Kidney Disease Journey

02/15/2026

Yesterday, on Valentine’s Day, I completed my 121st dialysis session. While awaiting a kidney transplant, I value National Kidney Donor Day, which recognizes the generosity of organ donors.

Hier, jour de la Saint-Valentin, j'ai terminé ma 121e séance de dialyse. En attendant une greffe de rein, je tiens à souligner la Journée nationale du don de rein, qui rend hommage à la générosité des donneurs d'organes.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16wKc9ukmA/

Today we honor the extraordinary generosity behind organ donation and especially living kidney donation. A single decision to donate can restore health, extend life, and give families more time together. Living kidney donors are remarkable people who step forward to help someone they may love or may never meet, and their courage changes the course of another person’s future. Organ donation in all its forms reminds us that even in difficult moments, compassion can create hope and healing. By learning more, registering as a donor, and supporting those on the transplant journey, we all have the power to give love and give life. ♥️

11/10/2025

DYK that dialysis in Canada began with pioneering efforts in the mid-1940s, evolving into a standard treatment by the 1960s.

In 1963, the Ottawa General Hospital unveiled the city’s first dialysis machine (only the third in all of Canada). Due to limited resources, only a few patients were selected for the life-saving procedure based on strict criteria (e.g., being married with children, between 20-40 years old, and in otherwise good health).

See The Historical Society of Ottawa's Post at:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17kCjD9vBh/

An Ottawa customs clerk received Canada’s first successful kidney transplant -- on November 7, 1963.

The following month, the Ottawa General Hospital unveiled the city’s first dialysis machine (only the third in all of Canada).

With only a single dialysis machine, a hospital committee was forced to choose which handful of the many candidates would qualify for the life-saving procedure.

The criteria were stiff. Unless you were married with children, between 20 and 40 years and in otherwise good health, you weren’t even in the running.

Rachel Dicaire, a 25-year old mother from Alexandria, Ontario, was the first chronic patient to begin receiving dialysis on the Ottawa General’s new machine, in April 1964.

By early 1965, there were still only twenty patients in all of Canada receiving dialysis.

Hard as it is to believe, less than sixty years ago, kidney disease was still a virtual death sentence.

The arrival of kidney transplants and dialysis machines in the 1960s began to change all that.

The HSO’s James Powell reflects on Ottawa’s early days of life-saving kidney treatments:

https://todayinottawashistory.wordpress.com/2021/11/06/kidney-transplants-and-artifical-kidneys

10/06/2025

Thank you John Wilberforce for the guitar pic!

10/06/2025

I loved your Show! Thank you SOS ABBA and Joel Sauvé!

10/05/2025

Thank you, SOS - The ABBA Experience!

After completing his dialysis treatment earlier in the day, DANIEL attended the SOS - The ABBA Experience at Algonquin Commons Theatre on October 4, 2025.Thi...

10/05/2025

Last night, DANIEL attended the SOS - The ABBA Experience at Algonquin Commons Theatre after finishing his dialysis treatment earlier in the day. Pictured from left to right are: John Wilberforce, Serge Lavoie, Chris Eveland, Andrea Valois, Kevin Wright, DANIEL Lavoie, Jim Irons, Christine Irons, Kevin Chan, and Joel Sauvé. In addition, DANIEL posed with Kelly Latimer and Lindsay White. THANK YOU! I had a blast!

09/26/2025

What I know about my transplant donor? A story of hope and gratitude published by “Helping Society Live Connects” on August 24, 2025. I am planning to keep informed and share information about developments about Kidney Disease, Treatments and Transplants.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2461012984300792

09/26/2025

“Helping Society Live Connects”, based in Washington D.C., has shared an informative video about kidney transplant surgery on August 25. I have started to follow their page today to keep informed and share information about developments in Kidney Disease, Treatments and Transplants. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17NSbHTyBL/

09/26/2025

“Helping Society Live Connects”, based in Washington D.C., has shared an informative video on September 19 about hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. After undergoing hemodialysis treatments for 277 days, I have started to follow their page to keep informed and share information about developments in Kidney Disease, Treatments and Transplants.

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1AqeChYcrk/

09/22/2025

DYK this about Kidney Translants?

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17DQHtL2rw/

09/14/2025

DYK: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Hsq9K1HSt/

Kidney failure occurs when your kidneys can no longer work well enough to keep you alive without dialysis or a kidney transplant. At this stage, they lose their ability to filter waste and excess fluid from the blood.