Chris Craig has been suffering with a rare liver disease since he was a teenager.
Due to Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, a rare chronic liver disease, Chris’ liver has been deteriorating over his lifetime. It began to fail rapidly this past year and he is currently in liver failure. On December 23 the family received word that Chris is now on the liver transplant list as his survival depends on it.
Connor Craig, Chris’ 19 year old son, plays hockey with the Smiths Falls Junior Bears. He put his hockey journey on hold in order to undergo the rigorous process of becoming a living donor for his dad. Heartbreakingly, a few weeks ago Connor received the news that due to the anatomy of his liver, he is not able to make a liver donation.
Bobbi-Jo McGrath Craig, Chris’ wife, is grateful for the compassion and help the family has received. “I cannot express how thankful we are for all the support we’ve had from our friends and family, but also from the community. There have been small fundraisers popping up, and a Go Fund Me. There’s no way we could afford to do this apart from the support we’ve had.”
Chris’s sister Sarah has created an online fundraiser via the online platform Go Fund Me, and members of the community have been reaching out and stepping up as well.
A fundraising hockey game between Ottawa Senators Alumni and Smiths Falls Bears Alumni is planned for February 19 at the Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre, 8pm. There will also be a silent auction, including a prize of a first level box at the Senators game on Feb 28 vs Detroit Red Wings. This box includes 4 tickets, food and drinks. Also included in the silent auction is a Senators Jersey signed by Tim Stutzle.
Chris has been hospitalized since January 24 with complications from his liver failure. He will be transferred to a hospital in Toronto as soon as a bed becomes available. “In Toronto, the doctors will be able to provide more speciality care to get him healthy enough for a transplant. He will remain in the Toronto hospital until he is stabilized and a liver becomes available,” notes Sarah.
In Canada, the long-term success rate for liver transplant recipients is over 80%.To help the Craig family in their fight for Chris’s life, donations can be made at GoFundMe.com. Search for Chris’s Journey To A New Liver #doit4craiger
| OTTAWA SENATORS ALUMNI LINEUP | SMITHS FALLS JR A BEARS ALUMNI LINEUP |
| Laurie BOSCHMAN | Glen BROWN |
| Brad BROWN | Brett COSTELLO |
| Shean DONOVAN | Conner CRAIG |
| Scott GREENHAM | Steve DAROU |
| Pascal LECLAIRE | Nick DIXON |
| Dan MCGILLS | Rob DOPSON |
| Rob MURPHY | Zack HERVATO |
| Llew NCWANA | Dave IGMUNDSON |
| Chris PHILLIPS | Al LABELLE |
| Bryan RICHARDSON | Chris LOWE |
| Shawn RIVERS | Ben MAIDMENT |
| Randy ROBITAILLE | Mark MCCREARY |
| Rick SMITH | Dave MCGLADE |
| Brad SMYTH | Ryan POLL |
| Ed STANIOWSKI | Darcy REES |
| Chris VALENTINE | Ian RICHARDSON |
| Jesse WINCHESTER | Paul TOMPKINS |
| Jason YORK (Former Jr A Bear 1986/1987) |
# DOIT4CRAIGER Feb 19 2023, 8pm Smiths Falls Memorial Community Centre. Ottawa Senators Alumni at Smiths Falls Bears Alumni.
If you wanted to be tested to see if you are a match, how do we do it? I’d gladly help if I was a match!!