flyercanuck Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/bonnie-o-reilly-kidney-donation-seaforth-1.5938456 NHL star's mom donates kidney to arena manager who let her boys skate extra hours Social Sharing Facebook Twitter Reddit LinkedIn Email Bonnie O'Reilly gives 'gift of a lifetime' to well-loved former manager of Seaforth, Ont., arena Andrew Lupton · CBC News · Posted: Mar 05, 2021 5:08 PM ET | Last Updated: March 5 Graham Nesbitt, left, received a donated kidney from Bonnie O'Reilly, right, on Wednesday. (Twitter: St. Louis Blues) 34 comments They're grown men playing professional hockey now, but when Bonnie O'Reilly's boys were growing up in Seaforth, Ont., Graham Nesbitt was a local legend. As manager of the local arena in the community of about 3,000 people, located an hour north of London, Nesbitt would open the doors on snow days or after regular hours, so scores of local kids could skate. "They'd call and say 'Is there any way we can get onto the ice before school?'" recalls Graham's son, Joe Nesbitt. "He'd have the arena open at 6:30 a.m. so people could skate. He just wanted kids to be active and busy, not getting into trouble. It was his outlet as a kid and he wanted to pass it on." Both Bonnie O'Reilly's boys went on to play in the NHL. Ryan is the captain of the St. Louis Blues and after winning the Stanley Cup with the team in 2019, he brought it back to Seaforth and nearby Goderich. PHOTOS Look what came to NHLer Ryan O'Reilly's hometown today! Her other son, Cal, played for a few different NHL teams and is currently with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the American Hockey League. And now, for the guy who helped give her boys and other kids a bit of extra ice time, Bonnie O'Reilly has given the assist of a lifetime. On Wednesday, she donated one of her kidneys to Nesbitt, who is 65. The transplant surgery happened in London and both Nesbitt and O'Reilly are recovering well. The St. Louis Blues shared a photo of Nesbitt and O'Reilly giving the thumbs up from adjacent hospital beds on social media. On Thursday, Pam Nesbitt, Graham's wife, expressed her gratitude on Facebook. "From our family to you and yours Bonnie, thanks for the gift of a lifetime," she said. "Your selfless act means more than you'll ever know." Nesbitt retired as Seaforth's arena manager in 2003, going on to work for Olympia Ice Resurfacing and later the Ontario Recreation Facilities Association. He's known all over southwestern Ontario as a good guy to call if your arena ice isn't coming in right, or the resurfacing machine goes wonky. 'My dad is blown away by this' In 2011, Nesbitt was diagnosed with IGA nephropathy, also known as Berger's disease. Patients with IGA build up an antibody in the kidneys that over time can limit their ability to filter blood. Medication helped control Nesbitt's condition until 2019 when it became clear he'd need a kidney transplant. Many in the Seaforth and Clinton area stepped up for Nesbitt, offering to become donors. Ryan O'Reilly sharing the Stanley Cup with his 99-year-old grandmother after winning the NHL championship in 2019. Ryan and his brother Cal were often given extra ice time by Graham Nesbitt and on Wednesday Ryan's mother Bonnie O'Reilly donated a kidney to Nesbitt. (Allison Devereaux/ CBC News ) When O'Reilly was identified as a good match, she agreed to give Nesbitt one of her kidneys. "She says that 'What you've done for my boys, helping them achieve their goal of playing professional hockey, it's the least we can do,'" said Joe Nesbitt, quoting O'Reilly. "My dad is just blown away by this." To him, the donation is evidence of the special bond that often forms among hockey families. "Your team growing up, you become more than just a team, you kind of become family," he said. "It's kind of left me speechless. "Something my dad's always taught me is to be kind and helpful and generous to everybody," he said. "It just goes to show that those thoughtless acts and caring for people, it pays off. It truly paid off for my dad and saved his life." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fan4ever Posted March 6, 2021 Share Posted March 6, 2021 @flyercanuck LOVE stories like this! Thanks for sharing!!! The hockey community is the best! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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