A pediatric liver recipient spent a dreary December morning spreading some joy — and popcorn — to Chilliwack Hospital health care teams.
Ian Sewell and his mom Amanda were met in the lobby of the hospital on Dec. 3 by BC Transplant staff. It’s become an annual tradition for the Sewell family, as they visit various wards and chat briefly while dropping off a large box of goodies.
It’s dubbed Operation Popcorn, and happens across hospitals throughout B.C. in December.
Ian is now 15, and has been through dozens and dozens of surgeries in his life. He received a liver donation when he was just eight months old.
At this year’s visit, he was happy to inform both BC Transplant volunteers and the doctors and nurses he met with that he is enjoying a full life that includes camping and playing hockey.
This was the 34th year that BC Transplant carried out Operation Popcorn, personally giving thanks to the health care teams around the province who make organ donation and transplant possible.
This December, they said in a press release, there are more than 12,000 extra reasons to celebrate – that’s how many British Columbians had registered their decision on organ donation over the last month through an innovative partnership between BC Transplant (BCT) and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
For many staff in B.C. hospitals, Operation Popcorn kicked off their holiday season as more than 75 volunteer transplant recipients, living donors and families of deceased donors dropped off popcorn and share their stories directly with health care staff. This year, BC Transplant delivered more than 5,000 packages of popcorn to intensive care units, emergency departments, operating rooms, transplant units, transplant clinics and transplant pharmacies across the province.
Along with the celebration comes a serious reminder to consider being an organ donor.
Bill C-210 was adopted in 2021, allowing the CRA to add a question to the income tax and benefit return asking taxpayers, for the first time ever, if they want to receive information about organ donation by email from their provincial or territorial government. By consenting, the CRA can share the taxpayer’s contact information with the province or territory exclusively for this purpose.
“Most British Columbians support organ donation, yet only one in three have actually registered their decision. We hope this email gives them the nudge they need to make it official—and potentially save lives,” said Eric Lun, BC Transplant’s executive director. “For all of us, Operation Popcorn is a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of organ donation.”
BC Transplant received more than a million positive responses on this spring’s tax return forms. Emails to those who consented to receiving more information about organ donation had been sent out throughout November.
Didn’t get the email or can’t find it? Take two minutes to either verify or register as an organ donor at checkyourdecision.ca or registeryourdecision.ca. As of November 6, 2025, there are 1,617,709 British Columbians with a registered decision in the Organ Donor Registry.
There are nearly 600 British Columbians waiting for the call that will change their lives.