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Eighteen years ago, Ottawa mom Bettina gave birth to Dawson, a baby boy born prematurely with underdeveloped kidneys. When Dawson was four years old, Bettina donated one of her kidneys to her son. This gift of life kept Dawson healthy until the age of twelve when he experienced chronic rejection and began dialysis treatment.

Dawson was on the waiting list for a new kidney until June 27, 2018, the night before his high school graduation. Dawson was with some friends decorating their graduation caps when he got the call. “Everything changed within five minutes,” Dawson says of that night. Instead of his diploma, Dawson would receive a kidney the next day. 

There are a lot of challenges associated with kidney disease; dialysis treatments, restrictive diets and having to sit out from playing hockey are just a few that Dawson has endured, but he remained positive and hopeful throughout his experiences. He says the most positive aspect of his kidney journey is that the Facebook page 'Kidney for Dawson', and media appearances to find Dawson a kidney, lead to more awareness about organ donation for others. “It brings awareness to people who wouldn’t know anything about it, it opens up eyes and minds about kidney disease and donations,” which Dawson always aims to do.

The last eighteen years have been a roller coaster of emotions for Dawson and his family but Bettina believes everything happens for a reason. “It is challenging as a parent seeing your child go through daily pain and not being able to make it go away,” Bettina says, “Dawson’s whole life has been all about medications, doctor appointments, hospitals, surgeries, and restrictions but that has never made him bitter and he never wanted people to feel sorry for him. He is a tough cookie and he makes me a tough cookie too.”

Dawson and Bettina are walking in the Ottawa Kidney Walk to raise awareness about organ donation, kidney disease and to provide support to others in similar situations. Kidney disease is not just for the elderly, it can impact anyone. Dawson knows all too well that getting the call does take time, but he advises others waiting to not give up, he says “stay positive and keep going one day at a time, it does take time but never lose hope.”