Company says donated organs from Saskatoon family killed in crash will help 50+

SASKATOON – The company where a Saskatoon father worked before he and his family were killed in a crash says their organs will help more than 50 people.

Jordan and Chanda Van de Vorst and their two children, Kamryn, who was five, and Miguire, who was two, died when a SUV and their car collided on Highway 11 on Jan. 3.

Phenomenome Discoveries, where Jordan Van de Vorst worked as a researcher, said in a news release last week that more than 50 people will receive transplants through organ donation from the family.

Lou Van de Vorst read a statement out front of Saskatoon Provincial Court last week mourning the loss of his grandchildren, son and daughter-in-law.

Van de Vorst also thanked first responders, hospital staff and members of the organ transplant team at Royal University Hospital.

Catherine McKay, 49, is facing several charges, including impaired driving causing death.

Erin Schimpf, manager of Saskatchewan’s organ transplant program, says everyone should talk with their loved ones while they’re able to, in order to spare them the burden of having to make decisions on their own if tragedy strikes.

She acknowledged that her team does an extremely difficult job.

“The hardest part I would say, for our team, would be the time spent with families to see the difficult questions and the difficult decisions they have to make. And helping them on the worst day of their life,” she said.

Schimpf said organ donations from one person can save as many as eight lives. She added that other tissues collected from a single donor can make a huge impact on the quality of life for as many as 75 others.

(CKOM)