11-year-old organ transplant recipient from Chilliwack thanks CGH staff with treats

Two local organ transplant recipients were at Chilliwack General Hospital (CGH) on Friday handing over tasty treats to staff to thank them for their support.

One was double-lung recipient Cathleen Falebrinza and the other was liver recipient Ian Sewell, who’s just 11 years old.

The two delivered festive red boxes full of popcorn as part of BC Transplant’s 30th annual Operation Popcorn campaign. It’s an opportunity for those whose lives have been saved by organ donation to personally say thanks to staff in intensive care units, emergency departments and operating rooms across the province.

Here in Chilliwack, young Ian joined Falebrinza on Friday, Dec. 10 outside CGH.

He said it felt “good” to give the popcorn to the doctors and nurses that day.

Ian was born with rare liver condition called biliary atresia where the bile ducts aren’t formed resulting in the liver not being able to drain. He had his first surgery, called a ‘Kasai’ procedure, at eight weeks old where the liver is attached to the intestine so it can drain.

“His (procedure) failed, as most do,” said mom Amanda Sewell.

Ian was then listed for a life-saving liver transplant in December of 2010. A month later, when he was eight months old, he had his transplant in Edmonton. He was airlifted back to BC Children’s Hospital in May 2011.

The Chilliwack Progress wrote a story on Ian, then 10 months old, back in 2011. A concert fundraiser was organized to help the Sewell family with expenses.

READ MORE: Chilliwack family ‘living on pins and needles’

“His transplant didn’t go as smoothly as they hoped and he’s had 62 surgeries and procedures since then,” Amanda said.

Ian goes for monthly blood work and will have to do so for the rest of his life.

“He’s suffered live-long complications, but he’s a happy kid with a big heart and loves life.”

Ian has to be careful when being active and is unable to play hockey, even though it’s one of his favourite sports, so he watches it instead.

“He knows a lot of the Chilliwack Chiefs personally so that’s his favourite thing to do,” Amanda said.

READ MORE: Chilliwack Chiefs fan makes team feel at home in empty arena

Ian, who’s a Grade 6 student at Mt. Slesse, also likes curling, Lego, and arts and crafts.

Last year, Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada gave Ian two pairs of white sneakers to paint and decorate, so he made one pair for his family doctor and the other pair for Dr. Bonnie Henry. He has photos of both of them wearing his shoes.

And Ian has two simple words for his family doctor and all the other medical staff who have helped him over the past 11 and a half years.

“Thank you,” he said.

RELATED: Chilliwack organ transplant recipients thank hospital staff during Operation Popcorn