Saskatchewan organ transplant patients still waiting for surgeries

Two women who need organ transplants were taken off the waiting list because their health declined after the SHA postponed surgeries. Now they don't know if they'll get back on.

Two women who need new kidneys desperately, after months of waiting, still don’t know if they’ll get them.

Eden Janzen, 25, is plagued by health issues, including a recent tumour, a broken leg and problems with her parathyroid.

In a few months’ time she’ll have been receiving dialysis for five years.

“It’s bigger than my birthday… everyone actually shows up for that (celebration),” she said.

“It’s my dial-a-versary.”

Jessica Bailey’s diagnosis is simpler but it’s also worse. She’s 36 and has been receiving dialysis for three years.

Her doctors told her five months ago that she is palliative, meaning she likely has less than a year to live.

They were on the waiting list for a transplant last year, but in September the Saskatchewan Health Authority postponed all transplant operations so staff could be reassigned to help with the fourth COVID-19 wave.