‘Removing the gift of life:’ Father of Bronco who saved six upset over organ donation suspension

About a year before he died as a result of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash three years ago, Logan Boulet signed up to be an organ donor after he was inspired by his late coach and mentor, Ric Suggitt.

After the crash, Boulet’s parents, Bernadine and Toby, honoured his wishes. Six lives were saved through Boulet’s organ donations.

The Logan Boulet Effect, as it has been called, was the ripple in the weeks and months after the deadly crash that led to an increase in organ donation registrations by about 150,000.

If the same crash happened today, Boulet’s actions may not be repeated.

On Thursday, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) announced that organ donations in the province have been put on hold.

SHA executive director Lori Garchinski said the surge of COVID-19 patients in Saskatoon and Regina particularly has required the critical care experience and expertise of organ donation co-ordinators to be transferred to intensive care units in the province.

“We have slowed down and will provide only immediate tissue donation, particularly for some of our ocular patients … Unfortunately that has been one of the side effects of the surge capacity management that we’ve had to do to support ICU care in the province,” Garchinski explained at the news conference.

On Friday, Toby Boulet called the move “an absolute tragedy.”

“The selfishness (of) individuals has created a health crisis that is now removing the gift of life,” he said, referring to people who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID and now are filling up the province’s hospitals.

Frustrated, Boulet said people need to think beyond their own needs to what is best for society. Referencing his son, Boulet said Logan “wanted people to get life if he passed.”

“No one thought he was going to pass a year after that,” he said.

Though his family hasn’t received an organ donation, Boulet said he saw firsthand what families went through because of the crash.

“If there’s a … family in a minivan that crashes and four people have to go to ICU, is there really a space for someone?” he asked.

Boulet is also on the Alberta board for the Canadian Transplant Association. He said patients waiting for transplants will spend years hoping for their chance at life.

“When that turn is now whisked away by individuals that have made decisions (that) affected you, not just the persons that choose not to be vaccinated, … it’s going to cost more lives,” he said.

He remembered watching his son receive care while being kept alive for organ donation, from the crash site to the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.

“Would Ryan (Straschnitzki) be here today? Would he be with Logan? Where would these players be (without care in ICUs)?” he asked.

Boulet encouraged people waiting on transplants to not give up their fight for life.

To health-care workers, he is thankful.

“The mountain of work, your dedication to Saskatchewan is enormous and many, many times unsung,” he said.