Mr. Speaker, during my years in medical practice I dealt regularly with the tragedy of unexpected death, the grieving, the tears and the anguish. The story I relate today is bittersweet.
It starts with the tragic loss of Sandrine, an 11 year old girl killed near Ottawa. Her family showed enormous courage by consenting to her organs being donated to help sick sufferers. They then went further with a community organ donation program that enjoyed remarkable success.
Today, with support from the Kidney Foundation, the Association of Canadian Community Colleges, broadcaster Don Cherry and the Speaker of this House, a national organ donor awareness campaign was launched. I will be personally signing my own organ donor card. I encourage every member of parliament to sign on as an example to the rest of Canada.
“Sandrine's Gift of Life”—what a fitting legacy.