Todd was just 12 years old when he was diagnosed with diabetes, following in the footsteps of one of his older brothers who was already living with the condition. For more than 23 years he was able to manage it, but in his early 30s, complications led to kidney failure.
“I knew something wasn’t right in my body. I was slowing down, going for frequent tests and checkups. I saw a Nephrologist in the fall of 1998—and by December, I was on dialysis.” Todd recalls.
He remained on dialysis for more than three years, often feeling drained and exhausted. After being added to the organ transplant waitlist, Todd knew he had to take care of himself. “I’m a good patient,” he says. “I take all the pills and do all the exercises—I was prepping my body.” He even joined the Team Transplant dragon boat team.
In March 2002, the call he had been waiting for finally came. He remembers being jolted awake by the phone at 3 a.m.—it was the hospital; a kidney and pancreas had become available.
As his dad drove him downtown, he felt a mix of excitement and disbelief, with little time to fully process it all before surgery. It wasn’t until afterward, while walking the halls during recovery, that the weight of the moment truly set in.
But even in those early days, Todd was already looking ahead. “My goal was to get back into dragon boating after my transplant—it was my motivation to get better.” In 2004, after regaining his strength, Todd did just that. But he didn’t stop there—the following year he went on to compete in the World Transplant Games in London, Ontario.
Through connections and friendships he built along the way, Tood became a dedicated advocate for organ and tissue donation and transplantation, getting involved in parades, speaking opportunities and community events.
By 2026, he had competed in seven Canada Transplant Games—an experience he calls “a big thrill”, meeting people from all over the world. “It’s a different kind of connection. We all have a common bond that brings us together. We see the donor families behind our stories and the supporters that come out to cheer us on. It’s such a great time, but also so emotional.”
His mantra is simple: “For my donor.” He routinely shouts it out during events—even after a tee shot—keeping him grounded in what matters most. “It’s all for our donors. I can’t stress that enough.”
More than 24 years after his transplant, Todd’s health remains strong. In fact, so much time has passed that the surgeon who performed his transplant is now retiring, and the assisting apprentice has taken over his role
These days, Todd has taken up pickleball, playing three times a week. “I’m out there grinding as best I can on the court, wearing green to promote organ donation,” he says with a laugh. “I’m turning 60—there’s no way I’m 60! I have no idea who my donor was, but she must have been pretty active.”
“I have another person’s parts inside my body—when you’re looking in my eyes, you’re not just looking at me; you’re looking at my donor and my donor’s family as well.”
It’s something he never takes for granted. He writes to his donor family every year and honours them in everything he does.
“I’m so appreciative, blessed, and grateful. I’ll never forget.”