From one month to live to a lifetime of impact

A surgeon thought Debra Orpana had one month to live. Her kidneys were failing, and she needed a pancreas transplant because of severe Type 1 diabetes. She was frightened. She could barely walk up the steps to her home. Then one call changed everything.  

Debra’s care team at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) had a kidney and pancreas for her. She received a life-saving organ transplant in 2002 through VGH. This year, she celebrates 24 years since her transplant. 

Since then, she’s travelled the world and seen places she never thought she would see. Debra received what she calls, “the gift of life.” Now she’s leaving a gift in her will to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to support healthier communities for generations.

Turning gratitude into lasting impact

“I wouldn’t be here without VGH,” says Debra. “I owe it to VGH. To the care that I’ve had here and hopefully it will help other people with the illnesses they’re going through.” 

Debra received a kidney-pancreas transplant at VGH, the only hospital that performs the procedure in British Columbia. She’s lived in Surrey for 30 years, but when she suffered a stroke, she insisted on going to VGH for the world-class care team she calls her “A-team.” 

“There was only one surgeon in the whole province who was actually doing a pancreatic transplant, and he was here at VGH, so it’s definitely a hospital for everybody in BC,” says Debra. 

VGH treats some of the most complex cases in BC. Nearly half of its patients come from outside Metro Vancouver, seeking advanced care they can’t get anywhere else. It’s this specialized care that Debra, and her husband Ken, are supporting through their legacy gift to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. 

What Debra’s legacy gift will make possible

Debra and Ken hope their legacy gift will drive groundbreaking research and advance areas like cardiology, organ donation and transplant research.  

Their hope is already becoming reality. 

Their gift to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation will support innovative transplantation research, improving outcomes for organ recipients across BC. More than 6,500 people in the province are alive today because of an organ transplant, including 117 children — lives made possible through continued research, care and innovation. 

They have also allocated part of their gift to support the cardiology team at VGH. Last year, the Dilawri Foundation made a record $60 million gift to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to establish Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute (DCI) on the VGH campus. Their goal: to build a national cardiovascular hub and one of the world’s leading cardiovascular institutes. 

Heart disease remains the second leading cause of death in Canada. The DCI is focused on using new technology and discoveries to improve access to care, shorten wait times, and, ultimately, save more lives.   

Debra hopes her legacy gift will help fuel that vision — ensuring everyone in BC gets the care they need, when they need it most. 
 
Just like she did.  

Leaving a gift in your will is simple and makes a lasting impact 

Debra says VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation makes leaving a legacy gift easy. 
 
“It’s a wonderful thing to be able to do,” says Debra. “And there are so many people that will benefit from it. It’s very simple.” 

Debra’s life was saved through world-class care. Now her generosity will save others. You can leave that kind of legacy, too. There are different ways to give, like leaving a gift in your will, or leaving a gift of securities, life insurance or registered funds. It’s simple.

Call Associate Director of Legacy Giving, Lisa Shearer at 604.290.1455 or email her: lisa.shearer@vghfoundation.ca. 

Find out more about how to leave your legacy: vghfoundation.ca/legacy