YELLOWKNIFE - Ter Hamer wants you to know how the organ donor system in Canada works in case the unthinkable should happen in your family.

Julaine and Ter Hamer "camped out" at their daughter’s house last week while they were in Yellowknife to advocate for a national organ donor registry. - Amanda Vaughan/NNSL photo

Hamer is no stranger to the organ donor system. He said there's a need to "improve a system that is badly broken."

The long-time Yellowknifer who has since moved to Peace River, Alta., lost his 18-year-old son to an industrial accident.

Hamer donated his son's organs because the young man had made him sign a donor form only weeks prior to his death.

Years later, when Hamer's wife Julaine was awaiting a heart transplant, the couple met a number of people in desperate need of an organ transplant.

The desperation is due to a lack of donors. What the average person doesn't know is that the decision to donate organs still ultimately rests in the hands of the family. The decision must be made at a time when family members are trying to cope with their loss - regardless of whether the deceased has signed a donor card or not.

Hamer said the fact that "the worst moment of their lives" is the moment when a potential donor's family has to make such a decision is a key reason why we have a shortage of donors in the country.

What Hamer, with the support of Rotary Grimshaw and the Human Organ Procurement and Exchange (HOPE) program in Alberta, wants to do is to lobby health ministers to create a national registry for organ donors that wouldn't require the decision to be made under such circumstances.

Last week, Hamer met with NWT Health Minister Floyd Roland.

Stanton Territorial Hospital does not have the surgical capabilities to harvest organs, however, people in serious condition are often medevaced to Edmonton for their care anyway.

According to Stanton's Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Haener, Stanton can keep a person who is close to death on life support until they can be sent to Capital Health in Edmonton for organ donation, if that is the wish of the family.

Hamer drew a comparison between the current organ donation situation to that of a car enthusiast looking for parts.

Many wreckers now have searchable databases for rare parts or cars to help customers find what they need.

"If we can do that for rusty old cars, we should be able to do it for people's health," said Hamer.

President of the Canadian Transplant Association, Dave Smith, agrees that the current system definitely needs improvement.

The CTA is a charity group that works to raise awareness about organ donation. They try to encourage people to talk to their families about their donor status before that crucial moment. Smith was not yet aware of Ter Hamer's campaign, but he was encouraging.

"It will definitely work if he can figure out the legalities," said Smith.

While the registry would take a lot of work and funding to set up, Hamer said he believes that the money saved on medical care for patients waiting for transplants could easily make up the difference in the long run.

Hamer has worked with Alberta health officials such as Dr. Philip Halloran, director of the Alberta Transplant Applied Genomics Centre, to create a list of requirements for the database.

They came up with options such as the ability for donors to choose which organs they would donate, and also the option to register to not donate at all.

"Voluntary is a very important aspect," said Hamer, who doesn't want the government to put in place a system where people would be forced to donate.

Julaine Hamer also added that it's common for people to have personal issues with donating things such as eyes or skin tissues, hence the ability to choose.

The Hamers said they hope people contact their MLAs and health ministers about setting up a organ donation registry, especially if they want to be a donor or know someone in need.

"When an election comes along, people should be asking," said Julaine Hamer.

In the meantime, the Hamers say potential Yellowknife donors should speak with their families about their wishes, and sign a donor card available from their local clinic or health centre.