A special ceremony revived for MUHC donor families
At the MUHC, our organ donor families hold a special place within our mission to bring hope. To celebrate the courage of family members whose loved ones became donors, the Organ and Tissue Donation Program held an exclusive, commemorative ceremony. In attendance were approximately 16 MUHC donor families from the years 2019 to 2024.
The ceremony featured remarks from Wendy Sherry and Andrew Chan (MUHC) as well as representatives from Transplant Québec and Héma-Québec. Guests were welcomed with snacks and coffee provided by Press Café and enjoyed live music performed by Dominique Simard (vocals), Rafaël Cavaliere (piano), and Pierre Descoteaux (bass). Each family received a commemorative pamphlet and a keepsake featuring their loved one’s name printed on seed paper, which can be planted to grow into flowers. Also on site was the Mission du Dr Marsolais, a non-profit organization that provides support to donor families.
In the past, Transplant Québec and Héma-Québec hosted such ceremonies, but the pandemic unfortunately put them on pause. Our leaders in Organ and Tissue Donation thought to resume the gathering this year. They wanted to let families know they have not been forgotten and be given the opportunity to meet grateful transplant recipients.
“Working with donor families regularly, I am constantly moved by their strength and selflessness. Their ability to think of helping others during such a difficult moment is truly inspiring,” says Andrew.
“We wanted today to be about more than a legacy of giving. It is about honouring the profound selflessness of families who think of others during a very difficult time. We hope today shows families how the gift they helped give can have such a profound impact,” shares Wendy.
We spoke with the Handinero family, Mike, Michelle and their son Domenico, who attended the ceremony to honour their son and older brother Diego.
“It’s been five years since our son passed away. He was young, but it was meaningful to hear from other parents whose children received organs,” shared Mike.
Michelle reflected on the passage of time and the meaning they continue to find in their decision, noting that it has become “even more meaningful over time.”
The family shared that Diego was a liver, lung and heart donor. During the ceremony, they had the opportunity to hear directly from recipients, including a mother of three who received a liver transplant and a mother whose son received a heart transplant. Both spoke about their deep gratitude to their donors, whose gifts gave them a second chance at life. For the Handineros, these exchanges were especially powerful and moving.
Michelle, who is a nurse, also spoke about the support the family received from Wendy Sherry throughout the process, describing her as deeply compassionate and present: “She didn’t treat me as a nurse, but as a mom. Her empathy and the way she spoke meant everything. She supported not only us, but our whole family.”
