Transplant Manitoba-Gift of Life

11/20/2025

November is dedicated to Eye and Tissue Month making it the perfect time to talk about corneas and giving the gift of sight. Did you know one donor can help another four people through the gift of ocular tissue?

Tissue Bank Manitoba manager Ivana delivered an education session at Dakota Collegiate this week talking about the history of eye banking, the responsibilities of the team who connect with donor families, screening potential donors and the recovery of ocular tissue. Ivana also outlined the different medical conditions that would require a cornea transplant and the techniques involved to restore sight.

Donating ocular tissue after death is an incredible act of generosity and provides hope for those waiting. If organ and tissue donation is important to you, talk with the loved ones in your life and register your intent using www.signupforlife.ca, Manitoba’s online donor registry. All it takes is two minutes and three pieces of information – name, birthdate and nine-digit Manitoba Health card number – and you can make a life-changing difference in the lives of so many.

11/19/2025

Eye and Tissue Month is a great opportunity to dispel myths about tissue donation, and this one – “Can I still donate if I have poor eyesight?” – is such a common question!

Yes you can. Your eyesight can be poor and your corneas can still be healthy. This is possible because many visual conditions that contribute to poor eyesight do not directly affect the cornea itself.

You can still be an eye donor if you:

● Wear glasses
● Have cataracts or have had cataract surgery
● Have diabetes
● Have glaucoma
● Have had laser corrective surgery
● Are blind

If you agree to donate your eyes when you register to be an organ and tissue donor, your eye tissue will be recovered and analyzed to make sure it’s healthy for transplant.

Choose to leave well so others can live well.

Register to be an organ and tissue donor at donateyourtissues.ca

11/17/2025

The Gift of Life flag is flying today at HSC_Winnipeg and St. Boniface Hospital. Raised in honour of a donor, the flag only goes up after someone has offered a gift of life to others in need either through living or deceased organ donation. This action recognizes the courage, compassion and generosity of the donor and serves as a tribute to the decision to say yes to life-saving organ donation. Thank you.

11/14/2025

A free, virtual, interactive curriculum for organ and tissue donation and transplantation health-care providers is now available to expand health-care providers’ understanding and confidence in delivering inclusive patient-centered care to 2SLGBTQI patients and families.

The 2SLGBTQI Inclusive Care for OTDT Healthcare Professionals was developed under the guidance of Dr. Murdoch Leeies, and developed in partnership with Canadian Blood Services, Egale Canada and the University of Manitoba. This bilingual resource for healthcare professionals is specifically focused on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“In the organ and tissue donation and transplantation world, there is a recognized need among healthcare teams for further training in order to provide gender-affirming, patient-centered care to 2SLGBTQI+ patients and their families,” explained Dr. Leeies, a donor physician and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Transplant Manitoba – Gift of Life. “This interactive online curriculum was designed in collaboration with 2SLGBTQI+ community members, Egale Canada, donation and transplantation experts and Canadian Blood Services to ensure quality and inclusivity.”

To access the new curriculum, visit
https://professionaleducation.blood.ca/en/organs-and-tissues/courses/2SLGBTQI

11/12/2025

Join the conversation! This free virtual series explores personal experiences, health disparities, and the transplant process within African, Caribbean and Black communities, and the next session is on Saturday, Nov 22. Click the image for details and to register.

11/12/2025

Eye and Tissue Month continues and we’re talking about what exactly eye donation means. It’s the donation of your cornea(s), the clear part on the front of the eye, and/or the sclera, the white part of your eyes. A cornea transplant can restore sight to those who are blind. The sclera can help patch grafts in glaucoma surgery, reconstruct orbital areas, attach prosthetic eyes, and reconstruct eyelids. It all feels pretty miraculous.

Choose to leave well so others can live well.

Register to be an organ and tissue donor at donateyourtissues.ca

11/11/2025

11/07/2025

With overnight temps dropping, it is time for gardens to rest and prepare for the next growing season. The Garden of Life has been tucked in after a vibrant spring, summer and fall – though even now there are a few foxgloves bravely showing their colours.

The Garden of Life is an incredibly amazing space dedicated to the courage, compassion and generosity of living and deceased organ and tissue donors. Each spring a team of Transplant Manitoba – Gift of Life volunteers and staff from the Assiniboine Park & Zoo Conservancy plant the garden for all to enjoy and marvel at its beauty. The garden also offers a place for a quiet moment of reflection in honour of those who gave the greatest gift.

11/05/2025

November is Eye and Tissue Month and we’ll be sharing important facts and information about how the gift of tissue changes lives. Let’s get started!

There are seven types of tissue donation:
● Corneas to help restore sight
● Sclera to treat glaucoma patients
● Tendons to rebuild and/or reconstruct joints
● Heart valves to repair cardiac defects
● Veins to re-establish circulation
● Skin to heal burns, treat wounds, and prevent infection
● Bones to provide structural support and promote bone growth

Choose to leave well so others can live well.

Register to be an organ and tissue donor at donateyourtissues.ca

11/03/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Shelley Zieroth, Director, Heart Failure and Heart Transplant Clinics ❤

She was recently recognized by the Canadian Heart Failure Society with their Annual Achievement Award - one of the highest honours in the field.

Dr. Shelley Zieroth, Principal Investigator, Medical Heart Failure Program, was presented with the Canadian Heart Failure Society (CHFS) Annual Achievement Award on October 24, 2025. This is one of…

10/31/2025

Transplant Manitoba’s post-transplant team embraced the popular Halloween paper bag trend. Looks like they’ve got teamwork in the bag … 😍

Happy Halloween 🎃

10/31/2025

In a word – awesome! The energy and enthusiasm of our volunteers is unmatched 💚

Thank you to everyone on Team www.signupforlife.ca for spending time at the booth during Winnipeg Comiccon 2025! Your work to raise awareness about the decision to be an organ and tissue donor, and registering online using Manitoba’s online donor registry, helps spark important, life-saving conversations.

Another big thank you to everyone who stopped by to ask questions, share their donation or transplant story, or play some games to take home some fabulous Orgamites merch to enjoy!

It doesn’t matter what kind of fan you are – gamer, larper, cosplayer, collector, movie-goer, graphic novel reader, e-athlete – almost everyone can be an organ and tissue donor. If organ and tissue donation is important to you, talk with the loved ones in your universe, register on www.signupforlife.ca and share your decision.