It’s been a roller coaster few weeks for Lyndsay Richholt.
After a difficult year of waiting, she was told in November 2025 that she would be getting a liver transplant surgery on Dec. 10. She needs the life-saving surgery to remedy deteriorating health caused by her long battle with autoimmune hepatitis.
Unfortunately, while already in Vancouver at the start of December to prepare for surgery, Richholt learned that her donor was injured in a fall and no longer able to go through with the procedure.
The 42-year-old Kelowna mother was still positive when she shared the disappointing update in mid-December and spent the holidays in Vancouver with her family in hopes of getting another surgery date.
However, as the calendar flipped from 2025 to 2026 without any positive developments, family members said they had heard nothing from BC Transplant and the silence had left Richholt “exhausted and losing the will to fight.”
Now, as the opening month of 2026 comes to an end, it appears as though Richholt’s surgery is once again imminent.
She took to social media on Wednesday to share that BC Transplant has confirmed there are two approved donors ready to go, as well as 21 backup donors on a waitlist.
“They are just working with the surgical team to schedule a surgery date and confirmed they will give me the surgery date next week,” Richholt wrote. “My family and I have hope again and a strong belief this is finally happening.”
It’s been quite a battle for Richholt, her loved ones and even local officials since the Kelowna mom was told last spring that she only had months to live. In her latest update, Richholt took a moment to speak on the fight.
“I truly want to acknowledge the incredible nurses and doctors at BC Transplant who provide these life-saving surgeries,” she said. “Our complaints have always been against the broken system, the policies that don’t serve patients and the protocols that limit the care and information they can provide.”
She thanked all the “amazing, selfless donors” who have come forward to save her life, as well as her family, friends and Kelowna MLA Kristina Loewen for their continued advocacy over the past year.
