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Trillium Gift of Life Network Champion Award Recipients

Photo Credit: Michael Rajzman with Trillium Gift of Life Network. (LEFT-RIGHT) Brian Flood, inaugural Chair of the TGLN Board of Directors, Joanna Mitchell, Ryley Mitchell, and Ronnie Gavsie, President and CEO of TGLN.

A mother daughter duo from the Friendly City have received the Trillium Gift of Life Network Champion Award.

WOODSTOCK - A Woodstock mother and daughter have been honoured for their efforts in raising awareness for organ donation.

Joanna and Ryley Mitchell were presented with the Trillium Gift of Life Network Champion Award in Toronto earlier this month.

Their story began when Ryley was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy at two months old, meaning she had an enlarged heart. She was put on the transplant list when she was 7 months old and received a new heart a short time afterwards.

Joanna says Ryley is now a happy and healthy 12 year old.

"If there wasn't an organ donor for Ryley she wouldn't be here today and we wouldn't be doing this work. It's just so important to us to make sure that we honour her organ donor and the family that made that decision when they were going through something horrible, to give someone else life."

The Mitchells are now involved with the Trillium Gift of Life Network and the Canadian Transplant Organization.

Joanna says they will share their story to anyone who will listen.

"We've always said even if it's just one person that we talk to at a time, they might be the person to save eight lives through donating their organs. Every day we want to talk to somebody and make them understand the importance of organ donation."

Approximately 46 percent of Woodstock residents are currently registered organ donors.
 

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