After enduring the pain of losing a child to cancer, Joe Marchand was honoured to give the gift of life to another family.

Since being diagnosed with a kidney disorder almost two decades ago at age 14, Vanessa Bailey������Ƶapp life has never been the same.

Amid the January inundation of news from south of the border about insurrection, impeachment and inauguration, a significant piece of Nova Scotia legislation took effect with little fanfare.

Stuart Asselstine had every intention of becoming an organ donor but never thought he would be alive to witness a friend benefitting from his generosity.

OTTAWA -- Increasing numbers of people killed by euthanasia are supplying a “boon” for organ transplant surgeries in Canada, according to an Ottawa newspaper. But politicians and ethicists say the practice is “rather horrifying” and raises questions of “coercion.”

St. John Paul II called organ donation a “genuine act of love.” Pope Benedict XVI is a registered organ donor and urges others to follow suit. For many people, offering this gift of life is intrinsic to their estate planning. Here is one story of how signing a donor card saved a life. 

VATICAN CITY - When done ethically and free of charge, organ donation is a selfless gesture that contributes to fostering a culture of life, Pope Francis said.

Organ donation is a generous gesture that celebrates life and says to the recipient: “I’m glad you are alive,” said Christa Morse.

Facebook users in the U.S. and U.K. are now able to put their organ donor status on their Facebook wall, alongside their religious and political views. Soon that option will be coming to Canada and other countries. When that happens, Morse will gladly sign up.

Sarah Burke is dead. Others live because of her.

The 29-year-old freestyle skiing pioneer's organs and tissue were donated for transplants. As operating rooms in Park City Utah worked on salvaging the Canadian ski hero's organs, the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute, Trillium Gift of Life Network and St. Michael's College chaplaincy department gathered Catholics on the University of Toronto campus to discuss ways of persuading more Catholics to donate their organs and tissue.

"The stories really are what motivates people," said CCBI executive director Moira McQueen as she opened up the Jan. 19 forum.