Navjot Sohi needs a living kidney donor

03/23/2025

02/27/2025

*Update: Please Share*
Hi Everyone, we wanted to provide an update on Navjot as she continues to search for a living kidney donor with blood type B+, B-, O+ or O-.

Navjot has been going through a lot of changes recently and underwent surgery to insert a peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter. In preparation for the procedure, she spent Valentine's Day having dinner at Earls and going to the movies with those closest to her. On Family Day, she focused on getting ready for surgery by deep cleaning her room to make space for recovery and her new dialysis materials.

Navi will start dialysis training on March 4th, where she will learn how to use the dialysis machine and perform manual dialysis. The training will be 3 times a week for 2 weeks, from 9am-4pm each day. It’s an intense schedule, but it’s all valuable learning to prepare her for this next stage.

She has been feeling very nervous, especially about the flush and drain process, as the drain was particularly painful toward the end for her. Leading up to the catheter insertion procedure, Navi felt anxious but had come to accept it. The surgery took place on February 18, and she is now recovering. While the recovery has been somewhat painful, it hasn’t been as bad as she initially feared. As she prepares to begin PD training on Tuesday, she remains hopeful that the process won’t be too painful despite her ongoing fears.

If Navjot finds a kidney donor match, she will be able to stop dialysis and move forward with a transplant – something that would give her the healthier, more sustainable future she dreams of. Please continue to like, share, and follow her journey! Thank you to anyone who has applied or helped spread the word. If you or someone you know is aged 18-60, in good health, has blood type B+, B-, O+ or O-, and is interested in becoming a living kidney donor in Toronto, Canada, complete the 11-page health history form below. You'll need the recipient's name (Navjot Sohi) and birthdate (Oct. 14, 1996). Then, submit the form to Toronto General Hospital by email, mail, or fax (details on the last page): https://www.uhnlivingdonor.ca

Thanks,
Navjot & Campaign Team

09/23/2024

*A Message from Navjot Sohi: Please Share*

Living organ donation is important to me because it holds the power to save my life, freeing me from dialysis, and giving me a better quality of life, and the chance to live longer. For donors, it’s deeply rewarding, knowing they’ve made a profound difference in someone’s life by helping them regain their health.

I daydream about being myself again - always outgoing, full of energy, upbeat, and social. I often tell my friends “I can’t wait until you see me after I get a new kidney, I’ll be so much better”. It’s been a struggle because I tire easily and feel bad when my friends adjust or compromise for me. One of my favourite activities is sunset walks and pictures of the sky, but I couldn’t do that this summer because I felt too drained.

I’m looking forward to getting back to my daily walks, exploring, enjoying meals with friends without feeling full after just a few bites, enjoying nights out in the city, having more energy, and feeling healthy overall. I’m just excited for everything honestly! Despite the challenges, this phase of my life taught me the importance of rest and relaxation, and plan to continue prioritizing them post-transplant for my mental and physical health.

Please continue to like, share, and follow my journey! Thank you to anyone who has applied or helped spread the word. If you or someone you know is aged 18-60, in good health, has blood type B+, B-, O+ or O-, and is interested in becoming a living kidney donor in Toronto Canada, complete the 11-page health history form below. You'll need the recipient's name (Navjot Sohi) and birthdate (Oct. 14, 1996). Then, submit the form to Toronto General Hospital via email, mail, or fax (details on the last page): https://www.uhnlivingdonor.ca

Thank you,
Navjot & Campaign Team

08/22/2024

*Update: Please Share*

We wanted to provide a quick update on Navjot Sohi’s search for a living kidney donor and how she has been doing recently. Navjot is currently still looking for a living kidney donor with blood type B+, B-, O+ or O- to donate at Toronto General Hospital. A match has not been found yet and we need your help!

Over the past month, Navi has been feeling relatively stable health-wise, with blood work showing consistent results. However, there was an incident where an infection caused a temporary rise in her creatinine levels, which was managed with medication. Despite feeling generally good and able to handle day-to-day activities, Navi has noticed an increase in symptoms, particularly with more intense body aches and fatigue, triggered by the smallest of things. The most troublesome symptom is the pain and cramping in her hands, which has affected Navi’s typing speed at work.

Recently, Navi had an appointment with a dialysis surgeon to assess her abdomen for the best spot to place a peritoneal tube for dialysis. She also had blood work done twice to monitor her creatinine levels. On the bright side, Navi is quite proud of her hard work in trying to decrease the bicarbonate level in her blood over the past few years, as she has finally succeeded in doing so!

On a personal note, the past two weeks have been filled with lots of family events, including attending her first Hindu and Christian wedding ceremonies, which were a blast. In addition, Navi went to two concerts, Karan Aujla and Avril Lavigne. She also got to spend quality family time celebrating her brother’s, mom’s, and nieces’ birthdays this month. “I’ve been spending a lot of time with family this month and I’m having the best time!” Navi explains.

Please continue to like, share and follow Navjot’s journey. Thank you so much to anyone who applies and spreads the word. Here is the link to the application page in the event you know of someone, or you are that someone between the ages of 18-60, in good health, and wants to become a living kidney donor:

Potential donors can apply by completing the 11-page health history form below. It asks for the recipient’s full name (Navjot Sohi) and date of birth (Oct. 14, 1996). Once the form is completed, it must be submitted to Toronto General Hospital by email, mail, or fax, located on the last page of the form: https://www.uhnlivingdonor.ca

Thank you,
Navjot & Campaign Team

07/18/2024

*Please Share*

Navjot Sohi, known as Navi, age 27, from Brampton, ON, has chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is now in search of a living donor for a kidney transplant to avoid dialysis and save her life. Navjot is looking for a living kidney donor with blood type B+, B-, O+ or O- to donate at Toronto General Hospital.

Unfortunately, there aren’t enough organs for everyone who needs them. While we are born with two kidneys, a healthy person can live a normal, healthy life with just one. Navjot needs a donor who is between 18-60. The donor doesn’t need to be a relative or of the same ethnicity, just a healthy person.

The criteria for living organ donors are different than for blood donors. If you aren’t eligible to donate blood, you may still be eligible to be an organ donor. The kidney is an incredible organ; you can live a healthy, happy life with only one kidney! This surgery is more common than you may think and is very successful.

About Navjot:
Navi, 27, was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease at a young age, having been born with only one kidney. At age 9, she moved to Brampton with her siblings and parents. Soon after, she became sick, got an infection, and underwent surgery. Despite this, Navi returned to school and spent time with family. However, her life became harder than her peers, as she had to avoid anyone sick with a common cold or face a month-long hospital stay. She couldn’t even go out for recess with her friends at school!

Navi’s kidney symptoms, such as extreme exhaustion, body aches, fluid retention, frequent and urgent need to urinate, extreme itch, altered taste buds, and a higher risk of infections, progressively worsened until she went into stage 5 chronic kidney disease, known as kidney failure.

Navi graduated from York University, determined to work in healthcare as an analyst. She says, “I have a demanding job with long hours that easily drains my energy. I love my job, I love staying busy, but it's getting harder as I get sicker.” In her free time, Navi finds comfort with family and friends, in therapy, and reading mystery novels.

Navi began her donor search on Instagram () over two years ago, aware of her future challenges. Unfortunately, none of the potential donors were a match. Despite her illness, she isn’t ready to give up. Navi turned to social media again, using Instagram and Facebook, knowing her kidney function decreased.

Navi is grateful for all the support, which gives her hope of finding a match. She says, “Believing things will work out has kept me grounded and positive. I try not to let my circumstances occupy my mind completely.” Navi often dreams of returning to full health, enjoying her favourite activities, and feeling her happiest and most energetic self again.
Please consider the “gift of life” by getting tested to see if you are a suitable candidate to donate a kidney.

Learn more and apply to be Navjot’s Donor:
Kidney transplants are performed at the Ajmera Transplant Centre at UHN, Toronto General Hospital. To learn more about living kidney donation and how to apply to be Navjot’s donor, please visit: https://www.uhn.ca/Transplant/Living_Donor_Program/Pages/living_kidney_donor.aspx

Potential donors can apply by completing the 11-page health history form below. It asks for the recipient’s full name (Navjot Sohi) and date of birth (Oct. 14, 1996). Once the form is completed, it must be submitted to Toronto General Hospital by email, mail, or fax, located on the last page of the form: https://www.uhnlivingdonor.ca

The Living Kidney Donor Program will contact applicants about next steps. Candidates go through a comprehensive assessment to ensure they’re healthy enough to donate. Donor testing is done in Toronto, but potential donors can do some of the testing at local labs in your hometown.

Financial:
OHIP covers the testing, surgery, and hospital stay. For expenses like travel, food, accommodation and income replacement, there’s the Trillium Gift of Life Network reimbursement program for up to $5,500. They will reimburse expenses even if you get part-way through testing and change your mind or aren’t accepted. You can also submit receipts for reimbursement throughout the process and don’t need to wait until after the surgery. Visit: https://www.giftoflife.on.ca/en/transplant.htm...
Brocher: https://www.giftoflife.on.ca/.../PRELOD_Brochure_April...
Application: https://www.giftoflife.on.ca/.../Post_April_1_2023_PRELOD...

If you’d like to ask the experts questions about becoming an organ donor, contact the Centre for Living Organ Donation at UHN:
Phone #: (416) 340-5400
Email: livingorgandonation@uhn.ca

The UHN Centre for Living Donation hosts monthly online information sessions for Potential Living Kidney Donors. The next ones are on Tuesday, August 6th, 12-1 pm and September 3rd, 12-1 pm: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/information-for-potential-living-kidney-donors-tickets-803413470317?aff=erelpanelorg

Please share with anyone who might be willing to help. We will need someone brave and generous to give the gift of life. Thank you to anyone who applies and spreads the word. We are deeply grateful to you.

- Navjot & Campaign Team