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The Candy Palmater Show

A beautiful friendship that started with an organ transplant

How one little girl's liver donor became a close family friend.
CBC Radio ·
'Twins for Hope' was founded in honour of sisters Binh and Phuoc Wagner (Twins for Hope/GoFundMe)
The Candy Palmater Show12:17The unique relationship between a mother and the young man who saved her daughter’s life

Not every story of an organ transplant ends with the beginning of a beautiful friendship. 

In 2012, Johanne and Michael Wagner adopted twin girls from Vietnam. Both girls, Binh and Phuoc, needed life-saving liver transplants due to a genetic condition known as Alagille syndrome.

Michael was able to donate part of his liver to Phuoc, but Binh still needed a donor. In April 2015, the little girl received that life-saving surgery—thanks to a 19-year-old Royal Military College student, Kris Chung.

Kris decided to remain anonymous. A year later, after many Facebook messages and texts, he met Johanne and Michael Wagner, Binh's parents. 

Little did the family know that in addition to an organ match, they gained a new family member.

Johanne Wagner sits with her twin daughters, Binh and Phuoc, and Kris Chung - who donated part of his liver to one of the girls. (Facebook/Twins for Hope)

Kris and Johanne share the story of their friendship with Candy.

Learn more about Johanne's initiative, Twins for Hope.

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