CKPG News

By Randi-Marie Adams

Tumbler Ridge man gives the gift of life

Feb 8, 2022 | 5:56 PM

Tumbler Ridge – Pat & Lynnette Schile have been married for thirty years. Six years ago, Pat was diagnosed with kidney disease which quickly progressed into kidney failure.

Pat and Lynnette met Terry Willbern, while he was shopping for a new couch at the furniture store the Schile’s worked at. After Terry decided on a couch, Lynnette asked if he would be interested in buying an extended warranty. Terry politely declined and said he wouldn’t need it. Lynnette probed a little further as to why and Terry simply replied, “I am dying from ALS.”

Shocked by his reply, Lynnette and Terry continued talking and she shared the news that her husband was also dealing with his own health issues. Terry then offered to donate his own kidneys to Pat.

“They can’t take them until I am dead apparently (be)cause there’s, you’re not allowed death by donation,’ explains Terry Willbern “So, they can’t take them until after my death. So I told them well, you can take anything that you want, I am not going to need them where I am going.”

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Terry was diagnosed with ALS in early 2019. In the last two years, he has deteriorated and is now wheelchair-bound and really unable to leave his home. Early in his diagnosis, he spoke with his doctors and was given the option of doctor-assisted suicide. Which he has decided to do.

” t was an option I had, when it comes down to it, I’ll know when I guess. I’ll fight it as much as I can, nobody wants to die, right?”

For now, the Schile’s are extremely grateful for the kindness of a complete stranger. They have created a Go Fund Me for Terry, so he is able to live out his remaining days comfortably as well as have some dollars put towards his final arrangements.

Terry hadn’t even thought about organ donations until he met Lynnette and Pat. Now, Terry will be donating both his kidneys and his liver, potentially helping out three people.

To learn more about becoming an organ donor head click on this link.