B次元官网网址淵ou know you are saving my life, right?B次元官网网址�

Those are the first words PrincetonB次元官网网址檚 Christine Unrau said to her benefactor Gary Johal, who is willing to put up as much money as it takes so that Unrau can receive a double lung transplant, as soon as a matching donor is found.

Despite an earlier GoFundMe campaign that raised more than $25,000, itB次元官网网址檚 estimated the cost of post-operative care could easily exceed $40,000.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to be in this with you until the end,B次元官网网址� he told Unrau, after presenting her with a bouquet of flowers and a warm embrace.

The two met at PrincetonB次元官网网址檚 Copper Pit Restaurant, Saturday, March 23.

B次元官网网址淚 will cover the cost, whatever it is. If it goes to $50,000 or $60,000, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 really matter.B次元官网网址�

Johal, a successful entrepreneur from Penticton, learned of UnrauB次元官网网址檚 plight through media reports, earlier this week

Following surgery, Unrau will need to live in Vancouver between three and six months, with her husband Arlen, who will be her required caregiver the entire time.

The costs, which are not covered by the province, were beyond the familyB次元官网网址檚 reach. Unrau removed her name from the transplant registry in January, for that reason.

Johal was drawn into UnrauB次元官网网址檚 journey because of his father, he told Black Press.

The family patriarch spent six years on a waiting list for a kidney transplant.

B次元官网网址淚 know the pain and the stress and when I saw (her) name was taken off the list it broke my heart. It was devastating.B次元官网网址�

JohalB次元官网网址檚 dad eventually had successful transplant surgery.

Claiming good fortune, B次元官网网址渨e were able to pay all the expenses,B次元官网网址� he said.

In turn: B次元官网网址淚 feel this is my duty as a Canadian.B次元官网网址�

Johal immigrated in 1997, from India, and landed a job as a clerk at a MacB次元官网网址檚 convenience store in Penticton.

Two years later he was the franchisee, and he and his family continued to build on that success. He now operates more than fifteen small businesses across the province, and exercises philanthropy regularly, along with his brother, supporting health care initiatives in several cities, as well as community events and festivals.

Unrau called Johal B次元官网网址渁n angel on earth.B次元官网网址� She plans to give back in the only way she can right now, which is to promote the need for policy change that will mean B次元官网网址渘o one will have to die because they donB次元官网网址檛 have money.B次元官网网址�

Unrau has been invited to visit Victoria and meet with Premier David Eby to discuss the issues, and she is partnered with the BC Rural Health Network, based out of Princeton,.

Executive director Paul Adams reported there are 450 transplant surgeries performed in Vancouver every year, but 150 of those patients come from outside the Fraser Valley.

The organizationB次元官网网址檚 goal is to ensure that all B.C. residents have access to health care without a financial penalty.

B次元官网网址淒o you have enough money to be able to move to Vancouver in order to get surgery? ThatB次元官网网址檚 the inequity and itB次元官网网址檚 really egregious. ItB次元官网网址檚 one of the most egregious inequities that rural residents face,B次元官网网址� he told the Spotlight in an earlier interview.B次元官网网址�

Unrau said she is normally a private person, and itB次元官网网址檚 difficult for her take a front-and-centre role in such a high profile issue.

B次元官网网址淏ut IB次元官网网址檓 gonna stir things up. IB次元官网网址檓 not going to be quiet.B次元官网网址�

To Johal, Adams said, B次元官网网址淵ou are saving ChrisB次元官网网址� life, and Chris is going to save many more lives.B次元官网网址�