Nothing was left untouched in Cambridge on Friday. From lamp posts, to benches, to trees, everything was covered with a green bow.
The bows represent hope; hope for Kayla Baker. The 14 year old continues to recover after receiving a new lung earlier this week.
Kayla Baker’s mother, Susan, is optimistic as her daughter remains in critical condition in hospital. “She looks great. Her colour’s great. She looks like my little girl again.”
Speaking to a group of supporters, Susan says she will forever be indebted to the donor, “We will never know the donor family. From the bottom of my heart, I cannot thank you enough. They saved my daughter’s life.”
Kayla had to wait two years for her lung transplant. During that time she encouraged others to become organ donors, starting with her friends at St. Michael Catholic School in Cambridge.
“She has taught them about courage. She has taught them about empathy and hope. They have learned so much from her”, says Theresa Kroetsch, a teacher at the school.
Kayla’s elementary school also pitched in, going green in the hallways and classrooms.
Parents of students at the school also find Kayla’s story inspirational. Jodi Trottier says, “Everybody’s come together to go green from everywhere; from Newfoundland, New Brunswick. We’ve had emails from Ireland.” Another parent, Deanna Norris, echoed the sentiments, “Kayla’s message is widespread and these students have really picked up on it and their love, their drive, their energy; I think you can see it in the gym today.”
A rally was held Friday afternoon to spread the word that signing up to be a donor can be one of the most important things a person can do. Last year a dozen people received donated organs in Cambridge but there are still 11 people on the waiting list. The rally was even attended by Pam Ditner, who’s waiting for a new heart. “I’m fortunate that I’m living on a mechanical heart so unlike Kayla I’m not getting sicker while I am waiting but this is a temporary fix that will run out at some point.”
