FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Edmonton. Oct. 19, 2016 – Canada's organ donation rate
is among the lowest in the industrialized world – and every organ lost
is also a life. With unique and unprecedented access to one of the
busiest transplant hospitals in Canada, the new CBC documentary Vital Bonds
lets viewers witness first-hand the moving real-life stories of
Canadian organ donors and recipients over a five-month period. Stories
range from the sudden loss of 28-year-old Matthew and the decision to
donate by his family so his life would be an inspiration to others to a two-week-old Baby Harlow who waits to receive a precious new heart. An ID: Productions film, Vital Bonds (1 x 60’) premieres on CBC’s The Nature of Things with David Suzuki on Thurs. Nov. 17 at 8 p.m./8:30 p.m. NT.
“Vital Bonds is ultimately a story about humans caught up in
the transplant world against their will - and of the doctors who help
them,” says Niobe Thompson writer & director, ID Productions. “We
believe the audience will be deeply moved by what they see. And
ultimately, the generosity to donate organs is a power that comes out of
empathy. We hope this documentary creates empathy.”
Vital Bonds lets audiences witness the
emotional impact of both the giving and receiving of organ donation
first-hand for the first time on CBC. The storytelling includes several
powerful fly-on-the-wall sequences. One story includes the family of
28-year-old Matthew who let us follow them on their journey from
learning of their son’s traumatic brain injury to making the decision to
donate to the heartbreaking moment of saying their final goodbyes.
Another story includes a devoted grandfather
waiting in the ICU for a new heart that’s big enough for his body.
Interwoven with several emotional narratives, viewers also witness
surgeons and scientists pushing medical boundaries of what's possible.
There is a companion feature film to Vital Bonds called Memento mori. The film premiered at the Atlantic Film Festival in September and is currently making the rounds on the film festival circuit.
Facts on organ donation in Canada:
Canada’s organ donation rate is among the lowest in the industrialized world.
90% of Canadians support organ donation in Canada. Only 25% have registered to donate.
18 out of every 1,000,000 Canadians are organ donors.
In Canada alone, one in four on the lung wait list dies waiting.
Over 4,500 Canadians are waiting for kidneys. Every day, four of them die.
A signed organ donation card does not mean you’re registered.
One organ donor can save up to eight lives and enhance 75 lives.
In 2013, 43.5% of organ donors were not related to the recipient.
In 2013, 246 people died waiting for an organ transplant.
Vital Bonds is produced in association with
CBC Television, the Canada Media Fund, with the assistance of the
Government of Alberta, Alberta Media Fund, with the participation of
Rogers Cable Network Fund, and with the assistance of the Canadian Film
or Video Production Tax Credit.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Check out the following social media pages for more on the people in the film and more behind-the-scenes insight and facts.
ABOUT ID: PRODUCTIONS
ID is an award winning documentary film and digital media company
dedicated to using cinema as a catalyst for social and political change.
Our mandate is to create films and media strategies that empower and
inspire. Over the years, ID has worked nationally and internationally
with a wide range of partners including NFB, CBC, TVO, Knowledge
Network, CTV, OMNI TV, ZDF, ARD and ARTE.
ABOUT CBC
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its
largest cultural institutions. We are Canada's trusted source of news,
information and Canadian entertainment. Deeply rooted in communities all
across the country, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English,
French and eight Indigenous languages. We also provide international
news and information from a uniquely Canadian perspective.
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CONTACT FOR MEDIA:
Susan Stafford
UNIT:PR Inc.
T: 416.506.1238 [email protected]
