School coming together in support of organ donation (8 photos)

Organ donor awareness month is hitting close to home for Greenwood Public School.

Grade 6/7 teacher Teena Coventry has a hereditary polycystic kidney disease that’s widespread throughout her family.

That’s why staff, students and families of the children who attend Greenwood have all come together for a clothes drive for Kidney Clothes, and an organ donation drive through the local Kidney Foundation chapter.

“It just makes you feel like...I don’t know what I would do without them, I really don’t,” said Coventry. “It’s so incredibly kind and generous. I have a very big supportive network, from my family, to my husband, my daughter, my sisters, my friends and colleagues here to the kids and their families.”

“They’ve been amazing.”

The clothes drive, which has classes at Greenwood competing against each other to see which class can produce the most clothing, has just started, and the school has already surpassed its goal.

“We had set a target of 500 pounds, and we met that within five days,” said Frank Greco, who’s been the principal at Greenwood Public School for five years.

Now, he says, the school is trying to push for 1,000 pounds of clothing for Kidney Clothes.

“We’re using this drive as another way for our community to show that they care about others,” Greco said. “It’s a good time to take care of some clothes that maybe aren’t being used anymore, but could be used elsewhere.”

Greco says that having Coventry - who’s affectionately known as ‘Mrs. C’ to her students - speak so openly about her kidney disease is ultimately a positive learning experience for the entire school.

“It’s a great opportunity when you put a face to your efforts, right?” said Greco. “Someone who is open enough to talk about a struggle, a health issue that she’s working through, and to have the students in her class be part of that.”

Today also marked the official launch of the school’s organ donation drive as part of organ donor awareness month. Two-time kidney transplant recipient Marci Oliverio and nurse Rebecca MacDonald with the renal program at the Sault Area Hospital spoke to Coventry’s grade 6/7 class about dialysis and how kidneys work. Marci spoke to class about her experience with dialysis and eventual transplants. Bob Garson - who volunteers his time to the school - also told the class about the Humboldt Broncos hockey player who had saved six lives, simply by being an organ donor.

“We’re hoping that the students in the class can be the educators, and educate people about what they learned today and about organ donation, and how it helps other people,” Coventry said.

It was fitting that Oliverio was brought in as one of the presenters during Wednesday’s launch of the school’s organ donor drive, as she shares some unique history with Coventry’s family.  Oliverio and Coventry’s father used to go for dialysis at the same time nearly three decades ago. They’ve remained friends for years as a result.

“Now I’m going through the same thing, but I have her to kind of look [to] for information or knowledge when I feel a little bit anxious,” said Coventry.

Coventry just began her dialysis treatment Tuesday, and will now go in for dialysis three times a week. She says that the hospital is starting her off slowly with treatment so that her body can get used to it, and will be on a regular dialysis schedule next week.

“I won’t lie, I was nervous and scared and a little anxious about it,” said Coventry.

“Today I feel pretty good,” she continued. “Yesterday I was really tired, and I felt kind of light-headed and a little bit weak.”

Although the treatment will eat up about 15 hours per week, her doctor has reassured her that it’s worth it because she will eventually feel better.

Coventry says the end goal is to receive a kidney transplant.  

“It’s not a cure, but it’s just a better way to live your life than not feeling well all the time,” she said.

Coventry says that the majority of her family are organ donors, and she’s hoping that more people locally will register in order to become a donor as a result of her school’s efforts.

“My sister’s had a kidney transplant, my father had a kidney transplant, I’m awaiting one, my nephew is,” said Coventry. “When you think about it, that’s the greatest gift that somebody can give you, is the gift of life.”

“It is a big decision that you have to make, and it’s nice that people are so selfless to do that.”