Samuel Provo-Benoit is currently in his grandmother’s cozy living room, filled with cherished family photos, angel figurines, and inspirational bible verses, eagerly awaiting a life-changing phone call.
Living in North Preston, N.S., Provo-Benoit, aged 35, spends his days watching television while awaiting the daily visit from a nurse to inspect his dialysis machine, all the while keeping a close eye on his phone with hopeful anticipation.
Despite his anxious wait, each phone call brings a wave of disappointment, like the recent spam call from a 647 number that dashed his hopes, leaving him with a weary smile.
Since February, Provo-Benoit has been on edge, waiting for the Ajmera Transplant Centre at Toronto General Hospital to notify him that a suitable kidney and pancreas are available for transplant.
Provo-Benoit’s health challenges began at a young age when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 10 years old. Complications from the disease have led to kidney failure, necessitating either dialysis or a transplant for his survival.
In addition to a kidney, a pancreas transplant is essential to halt the progression of irreversible damage caused by the disease, such as vision impairment and nerve damage in his feet, while also alleviating the constant fear of severe blood sugar fluctuations.
Having to take matters into his own hands, Provo-Benoit self-referred to the transplant program in Toronto after being informed about it by a doctor during a dialysis session at the Halifax Infirmary. This initiative led him to connect with Andrea Norgate, a registered nurse and clinical coordinator at the Ajmera Transplant Centre.
Despite the challenges posed by the healthcare system’s requirement for specialist referrals, Provo-Benoit bypassed the conventional route and took proactive steps towards securing his transplant opportunity.
While Nova Scotia offers kidney transplants, the absence of pancreas transplant facilities for almost a decade prompted Provo-Benoit to seek treatment elsewhere, leading him to the transplant program in Ontario.
Dr. Trevor Reichman, the surgical director of the pancreas transplant program, highlighted the obstacles faced by patients from the East Coast, including bureaucratic barriers imposed by provincial physicians, hindering access to life-saving transplant surgeries.
Reichman emphasized the transformation in pancreas transplant outcomes over the past decade, underscoring its potential as a “functional cure” for diabetes and its positive impact on kidney longevity.
Through outreach efforts to educate medical professionals in Atlantic Canada about pancreas transplants, Reichman aims to broaden access to these critical procedures, fostering hope for patients like Provo-Benoit.
Provo-Benoit, driven by the desire for a fresh start and a normal life, organized a fundraising concert to alleviate the financial burden of out-of-province medical care, expressing gratitude for the unwavering support of his loved ones during his challenging journey.
With his bags packed and a heart full of hope, Provo-Benoit eagerly anticipates the life-changing call that could reunite him with his twin daughters in Winnipeg, marking the beginning of a new chapter filled with possibilities and renewed purpose.