Holiday spirit was in the air at Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH), as volunteers from B.C. Transplant handed out goodies as a show of thanks to hospital workers.

The show of gratitude was part of the 33rd annual Operation Popcorn, a way for B.C. Transplant to thank those who make organ donation and transplant possible. 

"Thank you so much for everything you do to support us," said volunteer Stacy Rodgriuez to the hospital crew at the VJH, "We all have a story here and related in some way to a transplant story."

The volunteers went around to the Emergency Department, the Intensive Care Unit and the Operating Room at the VJH, dropping off large gift boxes filled to the brim with popcorn and other tasty snacks from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Letecia Hayes, one of the volunteers, recounted her personal story of giving away part of her liver, after her friend, Rodriguez, donated a kidney. 

"I was a little bit nervous to give a kidney because I still wanted to have kids in the future," said Hayes. "So I looked into the process and I knew that liver regenerates, so even though it was a big surgery it felt like a less-permanent option and so I went ahead with the surgery in Toronto for my liver."

Hayes donated 70 per cent of her liver. Within three months, her liver had regenerated back to 100 per cent,

"I had an MRI at 12 weeks and it had gone back to normal," Hayes said. "I feel great now, with no issues."

According to Leah Chesney, an organ donations specialist at the B.C. Transplant organization, 1.6 million British Columbians are registered to be organ donors. 

"That number keeps growing every year which is great," said Chesney. "But, it is ultimately the family's decision. If someone is in the ICU and the time comes for that to happen, we ask the family, and they can override the individual's decision."

Chesney also added that livers and kidneys are the top organs needed.

"There are over 600 people still on the waitlist for organs in B.C. and over 400 for the kidney waitlist," Chesney said. "We will probably never get to zero, but it is amazing to watch the names come off the list."

To register to become an organ donor, visit