Life can be so unpredictable at times that we become frustrated at our lack of control over events that seem not fair to us. Imagine the frustration of constant illness, the toll it takes on your body, your mind, and that of your family as well. Andrew Hatfield knew frustration.

Born with a complex congenital heart disease whose medical terminology would blow your mind, his first heart surgery was at the age of one week. Subsequently he had five open heart surgeries, one of which left him with a further complication which caused him to go into heart failure on numerous times. He eventually went to Ottawa and waited 22 months for a heart transplant. Wow, what a justification for frustration!

For Peggy and Larry Hatfield, it was the beginning of a 25-year journey to visit doctors, hospitals, and other provincial health centres seeking treatments for Andrew, waiting for someone to find the solution to his heart problems. Family life in the Hatfield home centred around Andrew for unavoidable reasons, and gave each member, including big brother Larry, a sense of the urgency of Andrew’s needs in their everyday routine. It helped create a closeness that was their lifeline in the most critical times.

Through many of his ordeals, Andrew’s sense of humour shone through. During a routine visit to see Andrew, his favourite priest asked him if he would like to again receive the blessing of the sick. Andrew replied yes, and as the young Father finished the formal rite, Andrew looked him straight in the eye and asked what kind of ‘time limit’ were these things supposed to last for, because the last time he didn’t feel he got all the value he figured he should have, and just felt it was worth checking out. The young priest laughed and said the warrantee varied from time to time, but he would pass on Andrew’s comment!

A level of celebrity followed Andrew too, probably as a by-product of his youth and being away from home for serious medical reasons. He loved being treated to hockey games, meeting the players, touring Parliament Hill, photos with the Prime Minister - twice -, an escort into Rideau Hall - the Governor General’s home - and other such perks that he enjoyed recounting for friends.

Then a new level of celebrity status as a Kinsmen when his dad Larry received his life membership. Andrew became the first ever Kin Kid to join the St. John’s East Kinsmen Club. No longer a kid, he became a great Kinsmen joining discussions, challenging debate, and showed his spunky side when from his sick bed at the Janeway Hospital he got on the phone and outsold all other Kinsmen in the Vegetable Drive.

It was through this Kin connection that Andrew felt a contribution could be made to the program that became his passion, the Organ Donor program, and while thinking out loud one day he revealed his wish to help in some way. That was the beginning of what would eventually become Kin-ODAC, passed at National Convention in Corner Brook 2001 as the first ever national public awareness project in Kin. It has become an educational avenue for the organ donor program to work through the network of clubs that is Kin Canada.

resolution was passed that would see all clubs encouraged to place this matter on their agenda for the Kin year and thereby educate members so that at the very least they can all make informed decisions about the process. If only 10 per cent of possible donors were to follow the process and inform their families of their wishes, it would solve the crisis that exists because of shortages, not of organs, but of donors. We now have a process whereby we can become an active part of this education for all 9,000 Kin families.

Andrew knew of our power as an Association. He grew up with it, and then he became part of it. He knows that we can succeed where many others may not. How can we help? By becoming educated ourselves, by bringing guest speakers to our meetings, by talking with our families and by signing our organ donor card. Did you know the green ribbon is a symbol for organ donor awareness? I did not know until Andrew told me.

Sadly, Andrew’s wait for a heart came to an end on Dec. 13, 2000 when he passed away still in Ottawa waiting. At his funeral Kinsmen and Kinettes distributed 700 ribbons at the church so every person went home with that message. Cost? Just pennies! Value? Priceless! We have now developed our own Kin Organ Donor Card, which has been adopted by the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CCFF) as the card they distribute when asked for donor cards. It is through the continued support of CF over the years that Kinsmen and Kinettes have enabled CF patients to survive long enough to now have the opportunity to avail of a lung transplant to improve and prolong their lives. Now the natural evolution of Kin-ODAC will ensure that the link is forever sealed.

Fellow Kin, think of all the Andrews out there who need us to become aware. That’s all we ask of you- to become aware!

Life - Pass it on!