Twenty years after Kevin Gosling became the first living Canadian to anonymously donate part of his liver to a stranger, his act of altruism is continuing to transform lives.
In January, 50-year-old Helene Goldberg donated part of her liver
after reading about Gosling’s donation
. Goldberg works as a senior dental consultant at the Royal College of Dental Surgeons where she upholds standards to protect the public.
After she recovered from the transplant surgery, Goldberg set out to meet Gosling and tell him the impact his story had on her.
“It is all because of you that I was able to do this. You inspired me and I can’t thank you enough,” she told a slightly embarrassed Gosling during a virtual meeting.
“You’ve been an inspiration, probably for so many people. Because of what you started, you got the ball rolling for probably hundreds of anonymous donations and you’ve indirectly saved so many people’s lives,” Goldberg said.
“I don’t think about it that much,” replied Gosling. “It was 20 years ago.”
Gosling, now a great-grandfather who lives in Cornwall, Ont., changed Canada’s health system in 2005 when, after months of persistence, psychological testing and trying to change the minds of skeptical health officials, he was given the go-ahead to anonymously donate part of his liver to a stranger — a young boy who was desperately ill.
Gosling became the first Canadian to do so. Until then, liver donations were restricted to family members or those with emotional connections to the patient in need.
Some, including health officials, strongly opposed anonymous unrelated
liver donations
. They thought people with no connection to the recipient might be mentally ill or have other motivations. Gosling’s unwavering persistence and belief that he could make a difference convinced officials at Toronto’s University Health Network (UHN) to go ahead with the donation, which changed the life of an extremely ill boy.
It took a year before officials with the liver transplant program at UHN announced they had successfully completed an anonymous liver donation. They brought Gosling to tell his story as part of an emotional announcement that included a letter from the recipient’s family thanking him for giving their son a normal life. That act cleared the way for others to do the same.
Gosling changed the system in which Canada is now a world leader — anonymous liver donations to strangers. The ripple effect of his act continues to change lives.
Since his surgery, 150 people, including Goldberg, have donated part of their liver anonymously to a stranger through the University Health Network. The number often surprises people around the world, with some asking why anyone would take the risk of donating a part of their liver anonymously to someone they have no connection to.
Hospital officials have learned more about what makes people like Gosling and Goldberg tick — writing that anonymous liver donors are often super altruists who are driven by a strong desire to help others — even those they are not connected to.
That is something both Gosling and Goldberg understand. At separate times during their hour-long virtual conversation, they each articulated similar reasons for wanting to donate.
“If you could save somebody else’s life, why wouldn’t you?”
Goldberg did not set out to donate part of her liver to a stranger.
In late 2022, with both sons away at university, the Thornhill, Ont., resident felt she wanted to do something to make a difference in the world. When she received a request in the mail to consider donating a kidney, she was intrigued.
“My kids at the time were both studying at Laurier, and I thought, ‘Well, I’m an empty nester. I’m pretty healthy. Why not? What am I doing now?’ ”
She did the initial testing and received a call six weeks later saying she was a match with a person in need of a kidney.
Goldberg became more excited as the potential surgery neared, but during the final stage of screening, a CT scan revealed a small irregularity in her kidney, which disqualified her from becoming a donor.
“I was really devastated. It took me a long time to get over it because I knew I was being tested for one person. I was devastated for this person, even though I never met them.”
Months later, Goldberg picked up a copy of the National Post and read a story about Gosling’s groundbreaking anonymous liver donation and how the ripple effects of that act continue to be felt in Canada. (The story, “The Gosling effect: How one man and his liver forever changed Canadian health care,” was originally published in the Ottawa Citizen).
She was fascinated by what she read.
“I knew
liver donation
was a lot more invasive, but it sounded so attainable. (I thought) ‘I could do this. Why can’t I do this?’ ”
She showed the article to her husband and then went on the website linked to the story and filled out a health and medical questionnaire. She received an automated reply that the information would be kept on file for a year.
A few weeks later, she received a phone call from a nurse in the program called her just weeks later to talk further.
“Is this something you want to do? Do you want to continue with it?” she was asked.
When Goldberg said yes, a meeting with members of the hospital’s transplant team was arranged where they gave her “nitty gritty” details of the surgery and what to expect.
“They didn’t leave any details out. They pretty much were trying to scare me. Why would you want to do this? What are your intentions? This is the workup. This is what you have to do. This is the surgery,” she said.
When the surgeons asked whether she was still certain, she replied that she was 120 per cent in. “I want to do this.”
After more tests and meetings with a social worker and psychologist, among others, Goldberg was told that she had matched with a baby in need of a new liver and that her surgery was scheduled for mid-January.
Goldberg did not tell many people about the surgery ahead of time, but she did tell family members.
Her mother was dead-set against it.
“She said: ‘No, you’re not doing this. No way are you doing it.”
When her mother asked her if she fully understood what the surgery involved, Goldberg said yes.
“I’m going to save a life, and if I could do this while I’m alive, this is such a privilege.”
When Goldberg recounted that conversation, Gosling nodded and said: “It’s a wonderful feeling.”
Goldberg said she was more prepared for the surgery than she had been for childbirth. She knew what to expect day-by-day and was given frequent updates.
Her recovery was relatively routine, although it took time to heal and rest. She learned that the baby who had received part of her liver recovered well and was eventually able to return home.
And although she hadn’t told many people about what she was going to do, her husband posted about her on social media, calling her an inspiration and soon members of her community, including her rabbi, were visiting, offering support and bringing food.
Goldberg said she is proud of what she was able to do with the support of her husband and kids, and she wants more people to think about doing something to help others — not only donating a liver or kidney but blood or plasma donations, or even making sure their
organ donation
card is signed.
“I want awareness. I want people to know that this can be done,” she said.
“I don’t know if this will be my mission for life, but if I can inspire people like Kevin inspired people, that would just be amazing.”
At the end of their conversation, Goldberg looked at Gosling and said: “I would love to give you a hug if you accept hugs. You’re an inspiring person and without you, I wouldn’t have done this.”
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