{"id":41389,"date":"2026-04-05T00:17:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T00:17:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=41389"},"modified":"2026-04-05T00:17:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T00:17:34","slug":"in-death-this-brave-teen-goalie-from-a-first-nation-in-ontario-saved-many-lives-by-donating-her-organs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=41389","title":{"rendered":"In death, this &#8216;brave&#8217; teen goalie from a First Nation in Ontario saved many lives by donating her organs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"ttsIcon-cIBsl\"><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>Estimated 6 minutes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"toggletip-tKLKF ttsToggleTip-DSCNQ\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"toggletipInfoButton-yoX4E\" aria-label=\"More information\" aria-controls=\":R89qn5:\" aria-describedby=\":R89qn5:\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M11 7H13V9H11V7ZM11 11H13V17H11V11ZM12 2C6.48 2 2 6.48 2 12C2 17.52 6.48 22 12 22C17.52 22 22 17.52 22 12C22 6.48 17.52 2 12 2ZM12 20C7.59 20 4 16.41 4 12C4 7.59 7.59 4 12 4C16.41 4 20 7.59 20 12C20 16.41 16.41 20 12 20Z\" fill=\"black\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/p>\n<p>The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><em><strong>WARNING: This story references suicide. Help resources can be found at the bottom.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Anisabeth Kaiya Danis Waswa-Rae was determined to become a goalie when she was about six years old and later became the only girl on her hockey team after<!-- --> moving from North Caribou Lake First Nation to Thunder Bay, Ont.<\/p>\n<p>Today, Kaiya \u2014 her everyday name \u2014 is being honoured as a hero for what she did off the ice: Registering as an organ donor before her death at age 18 on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tributearchive.com\/obituaries\/47944471\/miss-anisabeth-kaiya-danis-waswa-beardy\" target=\"_blank\">March 26.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Kaiya&#8217;s funeral is set for today in North Caribou Lake, also known as Weagamow or Round Lake. Her <!-- -->liver, both kidneys, heart, pancreas, lungs and vessels were donated. All except the vessels \u2014 which have been stored for future use \u2014 have already been transplanted in screened recipients. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cHer last act was her greatest; seven lives saved, a legacy as brave as every save she ever made,\u201d said her mother, <!-- -->Stacey Rae.<\/p>\n<p>Rae told CBC News that Kaiya died by suicide \u2014 she&#8217;d struggled with her mental health and dealt with bullying.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome kids can hide so much behind their smile,\u201d Rae said. \u201cIf you met her, you would notice her big smile. She would just brighten up the room.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>A hero walk for a young hero<\/h2>\n<p>Kaiya&#8217;s family members aren&#8217;t the only ones who&#8217;ve recognized her desire to help others.<\/p>\n<p>A special hero walk was held Saturday at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), where Rae and other loved ones in hockey jerseys lined the hallway as the teenager was taken in for the organ-removal procedure.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"imageMedia image full\">\n<div class=\"placeholder\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/31ea6488-19f0-4205-b3e0-ca3967dfdcf8,1775068082753\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2000%2C1125%29%3BResize%3D796\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A person is seen holding a trophy. They are wearing goalie pads.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/31ea6488-19f0-4205-b3e0-ca3967dfdcf8,1775068082753\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2000%2C1125%29%3BResize%3D796 796w,https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/31ea6488-19f0-4205-b3e0-ca3967dfdcf8,1775068082753\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2000%2C1125%29%3BResize%3D1083 1083w,https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/31ea6488-19f0-4205-b3e0-ca3967dfdcf8,1775068082753\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2000%2C1125%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 762px) calc(100vw - 32px),730px\" src=\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/31ea6488-19f0-4205-b3e0-ca3967dfdcf8,1775068082753\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2000%2C1125%29%3B\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.7777777777777777\" data-cy=\"image-img\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"image-caption\">Kaiya played hockey for several different teams over the years, including the U15A Thunder Bay Elks.<!-- --> <!-- -->(Submitted by Stacey Rae)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>North Caribou Lake First Nation is an Oji-Cree community about 320 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout in northwestern Ontario. It\u2019s part of Nishnawbe Aski Nation, a political-territorial organization that represents 49 First Nations across Treaties 9 and 5.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s believed Kaiya is the youngest NAN member to have donated her organs. Her family hopes Kaiya has inspired others to consider becoming donors.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Among those at the hospital on Saturday was NAN Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, who said he attended \u201cto witness Kaiya\u2019s final gift of life and love.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur love and condolences to her parents, siblings and all those who loved her.\u00a0May our Creator comfort you this night and in the days ahead,\u201d Fiddler wrote on Facebook.<\/p>\n<p>Tributes to Kaiya have been pouring in on social media. A crowdfunding campaign to support her family has raised about $8,000.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u2018She still lives on\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Kaiya&#8217;s love of hockey began when a group from Toronto travelled to North Caribou Lake First Nation to teach children how to play hockey. Right away, she was intent on learning to become a netminder.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe didn&#8217;t know how to skate,\u201d said her mom. \u201cShe was very determined. What she wanted, she [would] get.\u201d<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"imageMedia image full\">\n<div class=\"placeholder\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/f187ef65-65c9-4d86-abf6-11aba42fc4ae,1775068328952\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C106%2C2048%2C1429%29%3BResize%3D796\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A hockey team poses for a group photo on the ice.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/f187ef65-65c9-4d86-abf6-11aba42fc4ae,1775068328952\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C106%2C2048%2C1429%29%3BResize%3D796 796w,https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/f187ef65-65c9-4d86-abf6-11aba42fc4ae,1775068328952\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C106%2C2048%2C1429%29%3BResize%3D1083 1083w,https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/f187ef65-65c9-4d86-abf6-11aba42fc4ae,1775068328952\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C106%2C2048%2C1429%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 762px) calc(100vw - 32px),730px\" src=\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/ais\/f187ef65-65c9-4d86-abf6-11aba42fc4ae,1775068328952\/full\/max\/0\/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C106%2C2048%2C1429%29%3B\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4331700489853043\" data-cy=\"image-img\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"image-caption\">Kaiya, in the front row on the very left wearing goalie pads, helped lead the U-15A Thunder Bay Elks to a city championship in the 2021-2022 season.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --> <!-- -->(Thunder Bay Elks Hockey Association\/Facebook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The Thunder Bay Elks Hockey Association paid tribute to Kaiya in a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/share\/p\/18UiYrgsSY\/\" target=\"_blank\"> Facebook post on Saturday.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cKaiya played for several teams throughout her childhood, but the 2021-22 season stands out for us; we were fortunate to truly get to know her that year. As the goalie for our U15A Elks, Kaiya was instrumental in leading the team to a city championship to cap off the season,\u201d the post said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo continue her passion for making saves, Kaiya made the selfless decision to be an organ donor. Her final gift will save seven lives \u2014 seven monumental saves to complete her legacy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile her life was far too short, those of us who crossed paths with her are the fortunate ones to have experienced her kindness and her generous heart.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kaiya graduated from Thunder Bay\u2019s all-Indigenous high school, Dennis Franklin Cromarty, last spring. Recently, she&#8217;d earned her certification to become a heavy equipment operator and had plans to work alongside her father.<\/p>\n<p>Rae said Kaiya knew a lot of people through school and sports, and always put the needs of others before her own.<\/p>\n<p>Her mother recalled when Kaiya saw two teenagers wandering outside in the cold, and invited them inside to take a warm shower and get a change of clothes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy daughter used to say, \u2018Everybody deserves a second chance.\u2019 She just wanted to help them,\u201d Rae said. \u201cShe was very bright.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She said Kaiya expressed she wanted to become an organ donor after learning her late uncle and a friend of hers had done so.<\/p>\n<p>About 35 per cent of eligible Ontarians are <a href=\"https:\/\/beadonor.ca\/#:~:text=Life%20Lessons,than%20to%20become%20a%20donor.\" target=\"_blank\">registered as organ donors<\/a>, according to the Trillium Gift of Life Network. As of Dec. 31, more than 1,600 people in the province were waiting for an organ transplant.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>As Kaiya\u2019s family and community come to terms with her loss, Rae said she hopes her daughter is remembered for her kindness and compassion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe helped seven people,\u201d said Rae. \u201cShe still lives on.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<p><em><strong>If you or someone you know is struggling, here&#8217;s where to get help:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/thunder-bay\/kaiya-gift-of-life-9.7150021?cmp=rss\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen to this article Estimated 6 minutes The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":41390,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41389","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41389","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41389"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41389\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/41390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41389"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41389"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41389"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}