Francine Moreau's Cross-Donation: a Chain of Solidarity

Francine Moreau doesn't describe herself as a hero. And yet her gesture has transformed at least one life, and perhaps several others. At an age when many people are thinking of slowing down, this active, curious and deeply committed woman performed an act of immense generosity: donating a kidney while she was still alive, as part of Canada's cross-donation programme.

"My main fuel in life is to make myself useful," she says simply. It's a phrase that sums up her career and sheds light on the decision she made almost naturally.

A decision fuelled by example

Francine Moreau has worked in communications all her life. Now retired, a mother of grown-up children and a grandmother, she continues to get involved, learn, and build connections. For her, donating a kidney was the logical next step.

Two close friends had already made this choice before her: one for her son, the other for her husband. Fifteen years on, they are both leading perfectly normal lives. "That was a big factor in my decision," she admits.

Then one day, an email was the trigger. A friend of Francine's announced that her daughter, who was suffering from kidney failure, would soon need a kidney. Otherwise, dialysis would become inevitable.

"Immediately, I said, 'I can do it, ' and I've never questioned that.”

Explaining the gesture and moving forward

At first, Francine kept quiet. The assessment process is long: analyses, examinations, and medical meetings. She preferred to wait until things became concrete before telling those around her.

When she did, the reactions were mostly marked by surprise: Why are you doing this? Have you thought it through? She explained calmly, talked about the measured risks, the rigorous follow-up and her confidence in the medical teams. Soon, the concerns subsided.

"I told them: I'm still healthy, I might as well make the most of it.”

Cross-donation expands the possibilities

Francine's approach is part of a still little-known reality: cross-donation of kidneys. When there is an incompatibility between a donor and the person they wish to help (whether medical or age-related, as in Francine's case), the programme enables donation chains among several pairs of donors and recipients.

" You can think of it like a game of dominoes," she explains. You don't know who you're giving to or who you're receiving from, but everyone wins.”

Launched in 2009, this Canada-wide programme, coordinated by Canadian Blood Services, has already led to more than 1,200 kidney transplants across the country[1]. These complex matches, repeated several times a year, require logistics and expertise that she deeply admires.

Constant support

From the first form sent to the CHUM to the end of her convalescence, around 15 months passed. Francine underwent a full battery of tests: blood tests, imaging, nuclear medicine, meetings with a nurse clinician, a nephrologist and a social worker.

She never doubted. "I trusted the team from start to finish.”

The surgery went without any complications. She left the hospital two days later. Her recovery lasted about a month. There was some fatigue and a few twinges, but no major side-effects... She gradually returned to all her normal activities.

Today, she can testify that living with just one kidney makes absolutely no difference to her daily life: life goes on!

Concrete impact, eloquent figures

The person Francine wanted to help—who uiltimately received a kidney thanks to cross-donation—is now doing very well. Her new-found vitality is striking: "It's like night and day".

This specific case reflects a much wider reality across the country. More than 4,000 Canadians were still waiting for a transplant in 2024, and around 72% of them were waiting for a kidney transplant[2], the most in-demand organ.

In this context, living donation plays a crucial role. The clinical data are clear:

These results explain why medical teams encourage living donation, where possible, as a lasting and effective solution.

A week to learn... and take action

From 19 to 25 April, we are marking National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week. It's a great opportunity to remember that donation—whether made during one’s lifetime or after death—is a way of showing solidarity that addresses a real collective need.

Francine Moreau's story illustrates the extent to which an individual commitment can have an impact that goes far beyond a single person. These gestures, when added up, contribute directly to saving lives, improving the quality of life of thousands of people and strengthening a healthcare system founded on mutual aid and generosity.

We can all contribute—here’s how::

1. I learn more about living donation.

2. Register to Be an Organ Donor register on the consent registry for a posthumous donation.

3. I discuss my wishes with my family.

Because a decision made today can become a true legacy of life.

[1] Canadian Blood Services, Cross-Kidney Donation Program, 2009-2026 data

[2] Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) 2024-2025

[3] American Journal of Transplantation 2021 - Poggio et al, Long-term kidney transplant graft survival - Making progress when most needed and New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) 2020, Long-Term Survival after Kidney Transplantation