Family takes up television pledge

Man had planned to raise money to purchase TVS for dialysis patients

Family of a Lasalle man who lost a lifelong battle with kidney disease last month have raised more than $18,000 to buy new televisions for local dialysis patients.

Born with underdeveloped kidneys, Brian Bacon endured three kidney transplants and was on dialysis many times throughout his 40 years. In the last weeks of his life, he required dialysis five days a week for four hours at a time — far more than the average patient's 12 weekly hours of dialysis.

During that time, the “funny, caring, loving and kind” man regularly complained to his younger sister, Kristyn Lovas, about broken televisions in the regional renal program at Windsor Regional Hospital. In lieu of TV for entertainment, he would Facetime Lovas and his young nieces while a machine filtered toxins and waste from his blood.

“Although he hated it, it actually gave us a lot of extra time together because he was sitting there with nothing to do,” Lovas said.

When Bacon was healthy enough, he told her optimistically, he would hold a fundraiser for the renal program to purchase new TVS. But his condition worsened, and he died Aug. 20.

In Bacon's honour, Lovas joined forces with other family members, Bacon's friends and his colleagues at Syncreon to make his goal their own and collect money for the hospital to replace malfunctioning televisions. Lovas said she expected to raise around $2,000 and was shocked by how many donations poured in.

“It just shows the impact that Brian had on people's lives,” she said. “People admired him and they wanted to help make his wish come true.”

The renal program has approximately 52 TVS — one for each patient receiving treatment at any given time.

“The patients appreciate the television to watch their favourite movies or TV show or to pass the time,” said Kristen Mailloux, director of the renal program. “Brian was an advocate for all aspects of patient comfort and the support from Brian, his family and friends goes beyond words.”

Further donations to the renal dialysis fund in Bacon's memory can be made by visiting wrh. on.ca/support. Funds raised will “directly support the purchase of new TVS in the program,” the hospital said.

Although Bacon is gone, Lovas said she wants to continue the legacy her brother created.

“There are always things to enjoy, things to be happy about and to smile about, despite all the badness,” she said.

From April 1, 2020, to March 31, Windsor Regional Hospital provided 38,777 hemodialysis treatments. The renal program currently serves about 240 patients who have treatment three or four times each week.

During his life, Bacon also advocated strongly for organ donation awareness, urging those he met to become a donor.

“He knew the struggle of needing a kidney and having to wait,” Lovas said. “He wanted to bring awareness about how important it was to sign your donor card.”

To register your consent for organ and tissue donation, visit beadonor.ca.