Innu man facing 'life or death' situation as wait for transplant continues

Simeon Poker had no trouble finding a kidney donor. In fact, he had about a dozen people lined up to help save the Natuashish man's life.

But nearly two years since being told he needed a transplant, Poker is still waiting. He fears he doesn't have much time left, and is being supported by a growing chorus of voices including his legislative representative and the Chief of the Mushuau Innu First Nation.

"I just hope it's coming soon, the transplant, and I just don't feel like living like this," said Poker in an interview in St. John's last Thursday. "I've been going downhill everyday. I get sicker and sicker."

Poker, an Innu father and businessman, said he walks around at night to settle his restless legs. The effects of constant nausea and vomiting show on his thin frame. With little hope left, Poker said he is contemplating suicide. 

"I can't sleep, I can't lay down, I can't sit on the couch, I can't do anything," he said.

Poker, 41, has been battling diabetes for almost two decades, and developed renal failure in 2020.

His younger brothers were tested to see if they could give him a kidney. Two of them matched, and Timmy Poker has been preparing for the transplant.

"The kidney is there, and it is ready. I want him to have a normal life," said Ruby Poker, as she clutches her husband's hand.

Simeon Poker said he and his family were told in June 2020 that it would take three to six months for him to get the kidney transplant in Halifax. 

Since then, he said, there has been a lack of communication, and differing opinions from doctors on which medications he should be taking. He and his family moved to St. John's last summer to be closer to the Health Sciences Centre, but Poker said his health is getting worse.

In the last few months, his fingers and toes have turned black from a slack of circulation.

Prote and Christine Poker, his father and mother, travelled to St. John's three weeks ago after Ruby called to say her husband was losing hope. He was spiralling into a deep depression and wanted to skip his life-saving dialysis appointments. 

"I keep telling him, it's going to happen soon. Every time I knew he was struggling with nausea and vomiting I would say it will be soon, soon, I keep saying that," said Prote Poker, the former chief of the Mushuau Innu First Nation.

"[The doctors] would say maybe [you can get the transplant] after another test, they keep changing the dates."