Because his liver can't effectively filter toxins from his blood, he is often lethargic and nauseous.
In April his doctors added him to the liver transplant waiting list at Toronto General Hospital, but unless he can find a live donor, the wait could last two years.
A live liver transplant would also improve Giroux's chances of for longterm survival.
Giroux's brother-in-law, Gates Poitras, organized a slow pitch tournament and BBQ at the Centennial Arena over the weekend to help cover costs for Giroux and his wife Joanne when they travel to Toronto for treatment.
“Every penny counts,” Joanne said.
Poitras said he expects the event to raise around $2,400.
Representatives with Beadonor.ca, the website that helps Ontarians register as organ donors, were also at the event, where they encouraged people to sign up as organ donors.
While the numbers in Greater Sudbury are higher than the provincial average, fewer than 20 per cent of eligible Ontarians registered as organ donors.
Since NorthernLife.ca covered Giroux's story in late May, Joanne said at least five people have come forward to save her husband's life by getting tested, to see if they are viable matches for a liver donation.
The University of Toronto Health Network operates a living donor program and anyone interested to make a liver donation to Giroux, or to anyone else, can choose to go through the thorough vetting process.
The network provides living donors with extensive manuals on liver and kidney donations, and a detailed donor health history form.
Any potential donors can choose to identify Giroux on the form if they wish to donate to him specifically, they should also note he is listed as a patient at Toronto General Hospital, and was born on April 22, 1959, and his blood type is A, but he can receive a liver from types A or O, positive or negative.
