"Legacy of Kirk" with Scott Cadman

[00:00:00] Why wouldn't it be bad to help save someone else when you when your time's up when your time's up, right? Yeah, why wouldn't you want to well you can continue life you continue life definitely Kirk saved seven people We do know

[00:00:14] Couple of them were children so they change children's and family's lives imagine if that was your child right? Imagine being a dad who has their child with liver failure or something like that, right?

[00:00:24] Imagine that worry on that family every single day, right? And then having that miracle change their family's lives What if one of those people one day cure cancer? What if one of those people make an impact on someone who does something profound, right?

[00:00:38] I'm just a huge advocate for organ donation Especially seeing the changes so Kirk saved seven people seven people His heart still beats on Welcome everybody back to The Quiet Riot Show We're doing another episode. We're doing the thing doing the thing. We're still here. We're doing the thing

[00:01:23] We have a very and I don't know anything about our guests today other than like just very very basic things And so I'm really really Excited is the wrong word for this

[00:01:34] I never really say when we do this because like it's not an excited thing like when we found out kind of the Some of the story that you're gonna help sort of walk us through

[00:01:44] I wouldn't say excited was the emotion I felt but I think I was to me I was looking forward to this conversation in a Curious way. Yeah, to me it was a story that needs to be told. Yeah on in every way possible

[00:02:01] And so I'd like to welcome Scott Kadman I First of all, I'm really sorry for what happened But I I don't feel like I think we need to just dive right into the quick introduction of you and

[00:02:18] You tell us a quick story and then we'll do a little check-in We do a check-in for at the beginning of our show just how we're doing today. Okay, and whether it's Today this week this month whatever you want to take that's up to you

[00:02:34] We usually do it kind of like from our last show how we're doing So sometimes it's a week week off sometimes it's couple weeks, but But yeah, let's do a check-in and then we'll do a deep dive on the full story. Yep

[00:02:48] Well, it's a pleasure being here with both of you today My name is Scott Kadman. I'm proud father of two boys Proud father of two dogs Okay, as they're their children as well and they're never not know they're not They're more than children they get more, you know

[00:03:07] I do know that yeah, but with that being said I'm a teacher at Winnipeg or sorry the L'Uriel Arts and Tech Center I teach English English supports to students who need those supports. Okay

[00:03:24] I'm also a coach at the University of Manitoba in the athletics department. Okay. Yep. What do you coach? track and field okay. Yeah, yeah, I was Really fortunate to grow up in the crack track track and field field community and now later in life

[00:03:42] I'm back there coaching in the track and field field community. So my Nephew is just getting into pole vaulting interesting and he's like the only pole Valter male in his age Group and so he's had this really interesting experience with it and he absolutely loves it

[00:04:02] Well pole vaulting is amazing. Is that kids? Is that a track and field? It is Part of that okay running jumping skipping hopping He practices at U of M all the time excellent

[00:04:14] Yeah, and he just absolutely loves it and has had this really unique experience because he's the only one I guarantee you I've run into him then you probably have his name's Ivan. I've ever see him

[00:04:25] You can say hi. Okay, we'll do he's a very lean fit young man. I think what is he 16? He's 16 I think they're all lean and fit. I would imagine exactly if you're doing that. I don't think you're not I mean imagine, you know me doing that stuff. No

[00:04:40] I'd pay to see it Can we do Tommy track and field day? You know pole vault is very technical. I mean you mess up and you're going the wrong way, right? Yeah It's very technical and you know, it's

[00:04:55] Quite an outstanding sport. It's interesting. Yeah, it's very interesting anyways I don't want to take away from you introducing yourself. So What brought you here today well What brought me here today is to share my story my son's story and how

[00:05:16] Day by day it's becoming more and more beautiful by sharing that story Tim so we use an number system one to ten. Okay, how we're doing so I guess since the last show I'm

[00:05:35] Probably seven. Okay. Yeah, which is my that's your regular. That's my that's my ceiling usually I would say I'm a seven. It's been a pretty crazy little while but it's summertime my daughter's home She was at camp last week and so me and Rachel my wife went to

[00:05:57] My friend my best friend's cabin for a few days and like just relaxed and realized that we hadn't been away together For more than 48 hours for more than 24 hours without autumn in four and a half years Oh, wow

[00:06:10] And we were like yeah, we should probably go away for a couple days So we did it was nice way to reconnect. It was amazing I had so much fun and we just like really had a good time together just doing whatever we felt like

[00:06:23] Yeah, it was just it was awesome And so I'm feeling this has been a busy stressful week But I'm still riding high on the few days of enjoyment out at the lake. So I feel good. You awesome I'm I'm running at a good seven eight

[00:06:40] That few good days I actually switched so just for for you some listeners might know this already. I work crazy hours I would start 4 30 a.m. And then I'm off nice and early at one o'clock, but Staying up late

[00:06:56] Doing some work and now in the summer the kids are home. So they don't go to bed, you know There's no structure. So I'm staying up even longer So actually switched my shift and I'm starting later now. So I'm actually getting some sleep

[00:07:07] I feel like I'm a little more productive and just been really focusing on my well-being the last couple a couple of weeks and Yeah, my cholesterol and my I'm pretty diabetic How's your salad diet? It's it's good actually actually like today

[00:07:24] I had pizza for the first time in the last two weeks and But it's been just healthy. Well, but I've been eating like you know lots of avocados and salads and greens and chickpeas and stuff like that

[00:07:36] So just really trying to what watch what I put in my body. So I'm starting to feel a little bit better as just like mentally it really brought me down when I found out the bad results. Yeah, and

[00:07:50] So, you know, it's just like I kind of made peace with that. Okay, this is what I have to do in order for me to be around for my kids longer so So yeah, I'm doing good. Yeah

[00:08:00] Scott. Yeah, well, I guess I'm about a six seven right now. I just finished winding down the entire school year Yeah, it's being a teacher is actually pretty difficult. You know, you always have to be on

[00:08:14] At school and outside of school because you know, you're being reached no matter what and yeah, you got to help That's the kind of teacher I am You know With that being said, I'm looking forward to the summer. I'm headed to I guess the lake this weekend and

[00:08:34] Gonna spend some quality time with with my wife Amanda. Nice. Awesome. That's great. It's much needed Yeah, very much needed. Yeah, it's been busy busy busy busy We really For the past year and a half have not had a single break like I'm talking none

[00:08:50] It's just been go go go. There's been a lot of things Happening and a lot of things moving So yeah, that's a lot of yeah, that's a yeah. Yeah You need a break. Yes. And I know that just from like my wife as a teacher to like

[00:09:06] You know, they say all teachers get two months off and two weeks off in the winter plus spring break That time is much needed because yeah, you're you get phone calls in the after or evening, you know from crazy parents or whatever like

[00:09:19] emails from students and then students how you know sending you teams messages How do I do this? That's right. You know, like like all these kinds of so like you really need those two months to

[00:09:31] Unwind from your job and I mean, I can't imagine being off for two months and then going back to work That stress like the anxiety level in me would probably explode but Well, I guess you're used to it when you want to do it for you

[00:09:45] Well with with what I will explain a little bit later in my story. There is no time off during the summer really It's right. It's just been going going going and all for good reasons Great well, I'm very grateful you're here and thank you for

[00:10:01] Pre thank you for sharing what you're gonna share with us. I think I think it's gonna be Beautiful and yeah sad and tragic and lovely and all these things so Let's get started and why don't you?

[00:10:15] Walk us through it. Okay. Well, I guess I'm gonna start day of sure So it's about 3 30 in the afternoon Not sure why but I begin crying at work. I don't know why I was just in my office and I started to cry I closed my office door and

[00:10:31] You know, I thought am I going through something like what's why am I doing this right? Get home Never usually listen to music or anything and I turn on the radio and I Was listening to a few songs and you know, yeah

[00:10:51] It's going through a pretty rough time that day And I wasn't sure why because I didn't really have anxiety prior to this. I didn't have You know Difficulties Managing yeah prior to this it's always I've always been a very lucky person to not have that right?

[00:11:13] That night sorry that day I knew something was going to happen. I didn't know how I didn't know What was going to happen, but I knew something profound was going to happen and

[00:11:27] So that night I usually watched my YouTube channels and you know fell asleep on the couch My phone started going off, you know, we have a Ford app We have we had a My son who is named Kirk

[00:11:48] Had just purchased about a year prior a brand new Mustang with my help You know, he had just finished MIT T in the auto mechanics. I said, you know, this is a great opportunity for you Okay, you know young kid beautiful car, you know amazing runner himself and

[00:12:09] You know he You know I Wouldn't trade it for the world that car was just his life that car was you know his baby, right? Just like we treat our cars With that being said

[00:12:26] You know that night I was awoken by my phone and it was the Ford app Airbags had gone off. Okay in the four in the Ford musta and we always made sure that we had access to each other's

[00:12:43] Phone, you know just in the event that ever did occur that we would know the location. Yeah first off Yeah, and what occurred? I'm like, okay This has happened before it was a fault. Yep, you know

[00:13:03] I'm thinking this is gonna be the same. Yeah case faulty sensor or whatever it was and I call No answer I call again. No answer. I call again. No answer. I knew Something was wrong My son comes downstairs He's got another app. I mean we're pretty

[00:13:26] Yeah, my other son Ethan comes downstairs and he's got another app and he said that the g-force thingy The phone had gone off. I don't know what app. Okay. Yeah. Yeah in any case it also showed a location and He tried calling no call so

[00:13:46] We get into the truck and Both of us my son Ethan and I and I'm like where Where is he? You know like I need to focus on getting to where the location said the GPS coordinates. Yeah, do you had it?

[00:14:04] Put a mile before we got there it was on the highway so probably five maybe six fire engines two ambulances Five or six RCMP cars I Knew Right then on there This was a mile away. I knew without even seeing what happened. I knew something bad happened

[00:14:33] when we were approaching I I lost it, you know, I pulled to the side of the road and I Ran across the street the RCMP thought okay this crazy guy

[00:14:46] I don't know who it is. Yeah come and run in at us. What the heck's going on here, and this is a highway RCMP tackled me I said where is my son and I just kept screaming. Where is my son? Where is my son?

[00:15:00] I saw his shoes on the ground. I saw his phone on the ground. I Saw his car and I saw the semi that hit And I saw Things you should never see I saw the round head where his head hit a window

[00:15:22] Seat belts airbags do not help you know when the semi hits you like that. No, that's doing nothing Is that being said? Freaking out as a normal father would do screaming where is my son now

[00:15:40] RCMP trying to get some sense into me saying who are you right because I'm just crazy guy Like like all these people are looking at this point. Nobody had like they hadn't

[00:15:52] phoned you or contacted you so like you're showing up there and like technology is a new thing Yeah, so yeah, they would my baby what like what the fuck? Yeah

[00:16:02] They had no clue how I found out location. I have to tell them how I found out that location and They said smart idea right now without being said My son wasn't there but everyone else was

[00:16:21] They told me my son was being rushed to the hospital by stars ambulance service To my understanding you got there very very quickly I Looked at the RCMP officer. I said sir

[00:16:40] I'm calming down just I need you to let me go because he was actually bear hugging me at the time because I was freaking out Yeah, I said look my other son Ethan's gonna drive to the hospital. I'm gonna calm down

[00:16:53] But I need you to tell me is my son okay He looked at me in the eye and he said He was breathing when he left here I Knew right then in there that was His way of saying when he left here Probably not yeah

[00:17:16] Well, and you had like you you said earlier that you had talked you'd been feeling this all day I had and I don't know why I don't know how but I knew something was coming on and I

[00:17:27] Just was there the body the universe. I don't know what you call that whatever that is. Yeah, just How many stories are there about people Feeling that same thing before across the world. Yeah, like it. Oh

[00:17:43] It's it's really really strange. How was how was Ethan in this moment? So How old was Ethan at the time Ethan was 19 okay 18 and Kirk was 19 okay at the time So he just passed before 20th birthday just before 20th birthday on my birthday. He was pronounced

[00:18:05] Which is really strange? Ethan was He was quiet Ethan and Kirk grew up as best friends. They were close in age. They were close in age They hung out together same friends together Same school together

[00:18:24] Same room together, you know we they had bunk beds growing up. They got along really really well They were each other's best friends. They really were Ethan, you know, he he

[00:18:37] Since this has happened, you know, he's he's struggling as well and you know, we're trying to offer whatever sports we can Medical personal whatever we can provide, you know, we you know, we want to make sure that he

[00:18:52] He comes out of this. Okay, because he also saw what I saw and every time I close my eyes I tell you It's there every time I go to bed. It's there. It's burnt into my mind and it cannot go anywhere With that being said

[00:19:12] You know the cop the RCMP officer Said okay, I'm gonna let you go your son is gonna drive. He's on his way to the Health Science Center On the way to the Health Science Center, I made a few phone calls called my wife Kirk's mom

[00:19:30] Called my mom called grandma grandpa and I said I Can't tell you how I know this the cop said that he's he's breathing right now But you need to get to the hospital because this is probably gonna be the last day you ever speak to Kirk. Hmm

[00:19:49] I made it to the hospital with my son before anyone As we were halfway there, you know You're making the phone calls on the way making the phone calls on the way

[00:19:59] And I'm trying to be as calm as possible in the phone not to you know stress my other son Oh, yeah, and all that kind of stuff and I still feel like you need you need to be of the supports. Yeah for everyone else Yeah, yeah, and

[00:20:15] You know I Get to the hospital. I walk in the door and I'm like can you please tell me where my son is? He just arrived by stars The nurse looks at me. She knew right away. Yeah, so he's brain dead. I'm sorry That was it

[00:20:37] I said can you show me where he's at? They brought me to a room he was on a ventilator They're keeping his functions going. Yeah, but completely brain dead Something you never want to see your child ever can't imagine his face was black blue and yeah, and

[00:21:04] It was the hardest thing I've ever seen in my entire life mentally physically I Felt like falling to the ground. I felt like shaking. I felt I did Mm-hmm Unbelief, you know, I didn't believe that this was occurring. I'm like to the nurse. Are you sure?

[00:21:27] Like yeah, like can you can you just do something to help him? Because his body was okay. It was just his head. Yeah She said no I'm sorry You know, that's a Where Kirk's life took a massively heroic turn That night I

[00:21:59] Went home and I still looked outside For him to show up, you know, yeah At night, you know when the car comes in you see the red lights in the window, right?

[00:22:11] I still I still to this day look out the window and and hope to see those lights lights arrived that night I had a dream and This goes to that feeling I had during the day That dream Was a pain glass window Clear clouds behind it one sun

[00:22:43] And then in front of the window there was a Bristol board, you know like teachers. Yeah pin things on yeah Probably about 500 pieces of loose leaf On each piece of loose leaf it said let go My son is communicating to me at that time. I

[00:23:06] Believe that for sure I Drew it as soon as I woke up Because I'd never had these kind of dreams before, you know, I've had close family members pass never have I had profound You know

[00:23:21] Messages like that now ever ever happened to me. I drew it right away and I still have that drawing One day I hope to get a tattooed on me We were talking about tattoos right before the show. That's a good one to get

[00:23:36] Definitely, it's a unique story on that So can you tell us a little bit about Kirk? Yeah, I love to talk about Kirk, you know Kirk loved three things in the world. He loved music. I

[00:23:51] Got to listen to him play guitar every single night for about two hours. His favorite song was tears in heaven go figure I'm not kidding Man so so, you know, I

[00:24:06] He would constantly play that over and over and over and over again. You know, I I'm gonna tell you why when Kirk was young and as he grew up he he He let his heart

[00:24:23] Be the lead if that makes any sense. Yeah, oh, yeah, that's my life his motions were through his heart What he did helping people Whatever he did came from his heart

[00:24:37] Sometimes not his mind, but his heart always always the most helping person you'll ever meet. I think he expressed his emotions Through the guitar to be honest with you. That makes sense to me. Yeah So we got to listen to the most beautiful beautiful songs

[00:24:54] tears in heaven. Oh Oh, geez you name it. He's played it when we used to live in an apartment The people beside Kirk's room Didn't bang on the the wall to tell him to stop they banged on the wall when he did stop

[00:25:17] Literally, you know, he was that good and you know Self-taught as well. Well, nice. So he loved music. He loved cars Kirk graduated in MIT T You know, he auto mechanics. He loved cars His first car brand new Mustang Brand new Mustang. He loved that thing

[00:25:43] You know if if I ever came near it I'm like Kirk can I borrow the keys just for a couple minutes, right? Yeah, cuz you know, you you like to borrow my truck, right? Yeah, yeah, I'm taking the

[00:25:55] Your mustang just for like five minutes just around the block. Yeah. Yeah, he's like, okay And then when he hands it to me, he's like nah Puts it in my pocket, put it in his pocket. Yeah, he's like take it

[00:26:09] You know, he loved that car like absolutely loved it He loved cars period. Yeah, he loved working on he was his profession was a mechanic He worked in big rigs No, you know Yeah, he worked in big rigs

[00:26:27] There's a mechanic. Oh, that's a tough job. Yeah. Yeah. He said the tires were So heavy yeah that you know Just lifting one of those keys in good shape. Yeah So he loved cars. He loved working on them. He loved everything cars and he loved speed

[00:26:45] Was he like a mechanically minded? He must have been a mechanically minded person like and I would kind of think that actually Learning how to play the guitar Being a mechanic like some of those skill sets are like very much the same

[00:27:00] Yeah, like it the same type of person would do those things. He definitely used his hands. Yeah to to to learn Yeah, right and sometimes that's the most beautiful way to learn, right? You know, it's so many different ways to learn but that's how he did it and

[00:27:18] Yeah Kirk also loved running Kirk was the most Beautiful runner I've ever seen in my entire life and I'm not just saying that because he was my son

[00:27:35] He ran like the wind his stride was probably about two and a half meters. He was six foot six by the way Oh, he's a big man. He was a big man and when we shook or when he gave me a hug. I felt like a baby

[00:27:48] Let's just put it that way. I don't know how is even tall too. Yeah, he's the same size now Okay. Yeah, I They're they're both really big big kids and I don't know what's in the water or what's in the milk Like holy so you six foot six

[00:28:10] Beautiful beautiful runner ran so smooth You know and I'd like to tell you a little little story about his running Yeah, please which which kind of leads off into into A little bit of a different story so he loved running so much You know

[00:28:31] He was always the first to welcome people into the athletics community Not because dad was coach but because Kirk's heart was huge. He was helping everybody all the time you know, I Often told Kirk, you know, you're always helping others

[00:28:50] You need to you know help yourself to right but with that being said that was Kirk, you know Also bet that that helping others is what helped him it really did if he Maybe I'm maybe I'm wrong, but like his energy came from that yeah

[00:29:10] Being in service to others helping others caring about others that probably filled his battery instead of drink That's right. That's right. You know leading with your heart is probably one of the most rewarding things to do

[00:29:23] But it's also one of the most scariest things to do too because a lot of people take advantage of it Right yourself at a lot of risk and I've seen that happen to Kirk quite a few times with with relationships and so on right

[00:29:36] So with that being said, you know, he You know always helping others and you know giving pointers New people in the sport as they're doing a warm-up Kirk would just go right up to them

[00:29:53] Hey, my name's Kirk, you know, what's your name and just run with them during a warm-up just to help them? Yeah, relax, you know first day first week all those kind of get comfortable all those kinds of things He was just an amazing kid Kirk

[00:30:10] He he was an amazing athlete Unfortunately one day at school He was playing floor hockey in gym and you know because Why not right? Like have fun play some hockey and say, you know

[00:30:27] Kirk stepped on the hockey stick and he was in a sock because he didn't have his gym shoes Dislocated his knee. Oh shit. Yeah Year and a half of

[00:30:45] So when he dislocated his knee the school called me and I'm like what how does that happen like how how does this? How does a knee get dislocated come pick up your son? I'm like If he's a dislocated knee, you shouldn't be calling

[00:31:01] But anyhow, I I I got to the school, you know, I was less than a block away at the time where I worked and Kirk sitting in the office. He's looking around. He's in chalk. He's laughing He's laughing. He's like hey dad look at my knee Sideways

[00:31:24] Alright Kirk let's go So so his gym teacher and I we grabbed one side the other side Put him right into the back of the truck of the F-150 I know he was like he was like six foot four at the time, you know, so so there's lots

[00:31:46] And you know got him to the hospital You know after the initial shock wore off that wasn't laughing then Tell you that so he's a little bit more scary at that point and doctor told him, you know you

[00:32:02] Dislocated your key kneecap. You're probably never gonna run the way you want to again You know, you you have a partial broken ligament you know, it's Not gonna be a good idea for you to do that ever is that

[00:32:19] Sorry to interject but like yeah, it's a pretty shitty thing for a doctor to say to a kid Yeah, it really like fine. You say that to me like I'm an adult

[00:32:27] I can I can like I can determine what you're trying to tell me but like to a 14-year-old who just like is clearly athletic Yeah, I'm sure he wants to move around all the time. Yeah, and you know that was a first minute

[00:32:40] I'm gonna crush your fucking dream like yeah, and that's what everyone tells me is is the doctor Wow That's a pretty crummy way to say it to a 14 year old. It really was, you know, but with that being said the doctor

[00:32:54] Was stating what he thought and on Kirk's for mind is can I run? We don't need to harp on that But you know what, you know, he actually gave it back to the doctor. He goes if I can't run I'm gonna walk Kirk then became

[00:33:17] Good friend of Manitoba's first ever race walkers. Okay. Yes Placing fifth at Nationals in the U-16 championships. Oh nice. Yeah, okay top five in Canada. Yeah And impressive hey, you know Kirk said if I can't run

[00:33:34] And I got all this physio and all this kind of stuff. I'm gonna walk right and Believe me when I say Probably race walking is just as hard as running It's probably even harder because your waist are oh my goodness

[00:33:49] Clips of it and it's pretty like intense your feet don't move. They don't leave the ground. Yeah, I guess that's a rule probably It always looks to me like people have to go to the bathroom really bad

[00:34:08] But I've seen it I've seen it but you know, you know took Race walking started learning I was his coach But I race walking was really out of my field Gentleman by the name of Wayne McMahon Stepped in and taught him how to race walk. Okay

[00:34:28] Kirk like I said took a knack on it, you know, he started doing it amazingly People all across Manitoba like holy smokes that we have race walking here now at the athletics meets and stuff like that

[00:34:41] Okay, this is pretty interesting, you know, it's never happened like 22 years never happened 22 years So, you know during that time but a year and a half Kirk went to physio all those kinds of things seeing all these doctors Yeah, yeah, yeah each and every one of them

[00:34:59] Are saying, you know K walking but running, you know, you're risking right you're risking it your kneecap will probably Dislocate again. Yeah, okay, because it'll be a lot easier the tenons are all loose in there and everything

[00:35:13] There's nothing we can do to strengthen that other than you doing your work that you need to do right and So Kirk did the work you needed to do. He really did he Put a year and a half

[00:35:30] After race walking you looked at me. It's like dad. I don't want to walk anymore. I want to run That was my dream. I want to run. I wanted to be an Olympian. He wanted to be

[00:35:41] Olympian that was one of those is driving. Yeah, yeah or a driving force a driving force. Yeah, and I'm like Kirk, you know be dad's being dads, right? Well, it's your job. You're dad. I'm like yours protector

[00:35:55] Yeah, yours. Oh, you're also his coach. That's that's right. I'm like he's gonna start running you're gonna be sucked I'm in trouble, but I said, you know, I this was a learning to a learning experience for me that Kirk taught me

[00:36:11] Because I now stood in his way. I said Kirk, you know, you you've heard every doctor you've heard every physiotherapist they've all said to Your knee can dislocate very very easily and you want to run again one wrong step and

[00:36:31] That's gonna be another two years of recovery and so on right Kirk said, you know what dad? I wanted to run I Told me running was his dream to be an Olympian was his dream He could have been he really could have been I

[00:36:52] Gave in being dads as dads always do sometimes give in a little right? There's no sometimes there's no point fighting you're not gonna crush his yeah, if he's that determined like all right Well, now I'm getting excited. I'm on board here

[00:37:07] And even though I thought you know, okay, there's a lot of risk here, right? I knew there was but How could we do it safely right if this is what he really wanted to do yeah, I couldn't stop him

[00:37:23] He would just do it. It's gonna do it anyway anyways. Yeah, that's what he wanted to do. I mean you know That's what teenage girls do like you say no when they say yes, right? Yeah, exactly

[00:37:35] That's what I did when I was a teenager did what my parents didn't let me do right? Yeah, so I said okay Let's take it slow. All right. I said I'm on board then let's take it slow

[00:37:45] You're gonna start off with a knee brace running stuff like that to make sure let's see how things go. Yeah, right? No way it's like for us gum It really was yeah, yeah, no way he He

[00:38:04] He was pretty tall at this point. Yeah, probably six five at that point right in time You know, he's just approaching the six six mark and all that kind of stuff I'm like Kirk, okay

[00:38:17] What do you want to do said dad I want to be a 400 meter runner I'm like, okay. We need to look at this realistically. Let's look at times. Let's look at where we sit Let's look at the work we need to do I

[00:38:31] Said to Kirk, you know what what if we tried 400 meter hurdles? like Look at your legs. Your legs are taller than the hurdles And you you know, let's let's try that right like because I knew The 400 meter hurdle is

[00:38:51] Has a little bit less impact on the athlete because you're gliding over it, right? Yeah Rather than taking a 500 pound step each just stopping your way each way, you know Yeah, so it's a little bit less impactful. I didn't think he'd finished the race to be honest. Okay

[00:39:10] Well, he finished the race and boy did he ever he came right number one in Canada No joke. So he just he just didn't give up and then he kicked ass. Yeah, he kicked ass. So I'm like, okay Dad's all proud now. Yeah, forget everything I said

[00:39:34] You know, I did apologize to him because I stood in his way For a little piece of that time and it was a learning tool for me, right? Yeah that he taught me and

[00:39:44] You're also his dad and so he would have learned a certain level of tenacity from you or his mother or his grandparents But you can be proud of that stuff Standing in his way. You did it out of concern for him and concern for

[00:40:00] Failure what is it gonna like you're you're thinking like a dad? Yeah, yeah, and thinking like a kid carefree This is what I want to do and and he really is and and I got to be a role model for because you know like

[00:40:12] I grew up in the track and field community as well. I was ranked 25th in the world For you 18 category in the 800 meter Long long time ago, but but without being said I was really really and he sees these pictures in the house

[00:40:26] And he asks all he asked all the time about them growing up and stuff like that You know with that being said he said he wanted to be like me which was awesome awesome feeling Unfortunately, he was way better than I could ever be

[00:40:46] And now you want to yeah, and I'm not just saying that he was way better He was just a different caliber athlete. He was an athlete that 1% in the world that could have taken it

[00:40:57] He was one of those he was one of those and just that raw natural talent. Yeah So, you know, he became wanting ranked first in Canada for you 18 category and

[00:41:09] You got put on some team Manitoba teams at that point. I'm like cool. This is great. You get to travel, right? So he went to Alberta Oh geez Calgary Edmonton saskett you name it he's been to Nova Scotia

[00:41:28] Everywhere all over the country so do you stick with hurdles was hurdles Oh Okay, yeah, he was known as the hurdler. Okay, and You know then one of the races and I remember this at Sherwood Park saskatoon

[00:41:46] I'm in the stands because I'm not coached at that point, right? I'm dad Yeah, right and and you know, he's got his team Manitoba stuff on and He's in the in the blocks, which is the start of track and field and gun goes off

[00:42:03] Like wow he's going he's going And then I see him passing everyone Gets to the end and I'm looking at my timer and I'm like what the hell did I did I stop it somewhere or something like that? Like this is really quick. You know like that

[00:42:23] Crushed the provincial record by a second and a half Oh Royd it's huge and that record stood for over 26 years Wow. Yeah By a second and a half Significant improvement. Yeah. Yeah, oh Yeah, usually they beat the record

[00:42:45] So I'm in the stands and and I'm like directly at the finish line of my holy You know This is this is an amazing time and he comes through the line I'm stopping the stopwatch and I look at it and I'm like did I make a mistake here?

[00:43:00] Yeah, and I look at him and he's on the ground because after that he's Your energy's gone I'm like holy shit record and I'm just screaming record and I have the video going Here Out of the stands onto the track

[00:43:19] Where Kirk is lying down and the officials like you got to get off or we're gonna dequeue them right now Water goodbye, right? Yeah, he broke the record and

[00:43:34] Finally when he finished his warm-down came back to me in the stands. He's like, you know what dad I told you I told you I told you you don't give up. That's right. You don't give up on your dream and

[00:43:46] That was a teaching moment for me. Yeah, I'll never forget that. Yeah, never forget those words. You Never give up on your dream. That's incredible and he did so he was already inspiring people He was not just you but probably other athletes as well. Oh

[00:44:01] He he was an amazing friend to the community. He made so many friends in that community The community loved him and he loved the community You know, so he loved those three things in the world Quite heavily cars, you know music and running You know

[00:44:24] You know when Kirk was in the hospital now going back to then when Kirk was in the hospital, you know Actually, let's go let's go back a couple years. I had an uncle his name was Ronald and

[00:44:41] This is the the point in time where we had a conversation as a family about organ donation and My uncle had kidney failure and he's getting dialysis every Every two days, you know the pain that they go through the cramps that they go through is horrific

[00:45:01] You know, we took him shopping all the time and One day He got a call saying we have a kidney for you Kirk Ethan and I drove him to the hospital waited with him in the hospital until he went in Now We did this three times

[00:45:26] Because when you get called for an organ sometimes that organ expires before you get it Okay, yeah So we did this three times for my uncle and we had a conversation on the last Last time because it was he got the organ heat Got a kidney

[00:45:47] We got home Whole family had that conversation. I think it was a no-brainer He said we're all gonna Sign up and if anything happens to us we would want to help others and save others If we couldn't help ourselves, that's right. Yeah, and I Remembered this

[00:46:09] We all remembered it Came a hero saving seven people's lives through organ donation seven people It's amazing. Yeah, including his heart his heart still beats on today. I mean he was the epitome of health yeah, if if Heart recipient ever knew They had an Olympian's heart

[00:46:33] Holy smokes. Yeah, so Why don't we take a little break sure take a five and then we'll dig dig into the whole organ donation Because I'd like to know more about that. Oh, yeah

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[00:48:52] We just took a break. Welcome back everybody Guess we may as well say that Right So we were just talking about organ donation so I Can honestly say I know Nothing about it other than what I've seen on TV

[00:49:11] I don't know if I even know anybody that has That situation that's received one or given one or like I just I have no experience with that so I'm very You just the tone of your voice became very proud when you talked about that

[00:49:27] So I want to I want to dig into that and yeah, like for me like I Same thing. I don't know anything about it but I also like I have that card the little card in my wallet and My wife comes from a medical family

[00:49:40] So that was very important to us to be just like hey like anything to help anybody Once there's no point For me to be around, you know go for it like I don't need anything You know to take with me in the ground right well

[00:49:56] It's important to state what you want right and have those conversations with your family because of one of your family members Even though you decided to oh They can be stopped. Oh really? So in that in those moments

[00:50:12] You could have I could have superseded. Yep his his wish. Yep. Oh interesting. Okay, you know We had that conversation after my uncle received the

[00:50:25] Kidney and we all decided if our time was here. We'd want to save someone right now. You have to look at it this way I saw Ethan saw Kirk saw my whole family saw the change And the profound impact it had on my uncle

[00:50:46] Receiving that kidney not even not having to go to dialysis anymore not getting those cramps not you know not being able to To just be To live a life just sitting on the couch watching TV not being able to go shopping or visiting people and stuff

[00:51:03] I think one of the hospital every two days every two days. Yeah, it changed his life and it changed ours because we got to spend the most beautiful I think eight or nine more years with him

[00:51:16] Because of that because of that and that was really really important to us With that being said Kirk was and You know he donated he had wanted For that conversation for our family. We all wanted to donate our organs to save others

[00:51:38] Now you have to look at it at this way Imagine all the needless people who died not getting something upon someone else perishing. Yeah, right all the needless death. Yeah, right? Why why wouldn't it be bad to to to help save someone else when you yeah

[00:51:58] When when your time's up when your time's up, right? Yeah, why wouldn't you want to well? You can continue life. You could yeah, you continue life. Definitely Kirk saved seven people Yeah, yeah We do know

[00:52:14] Couple of them were children. Okay, so they changed children's and family's lives imagine if that was your child, right? Yeah, they needed yeah, like imagine being a dad who Who has their child with liver failure or something like that, right? Like

[00:52:30] Imagine that worry on that family every single day, right and then having that miracle change Yeah Their family's lives. What if one of those people one day cure cancer? What if one of those people make an impact on someone who does something profound, right? Yeah, like it's just

[00:52:49] I'm just a huge advocate for organ donation Especially seeing the changes so Kirk saved seven people so now you had to make this decision Yeah in What was the most traumatic thing I had that's ever happened to you?

[00:53:05] Yep in those moments because it's probably has to happen like yep now So this is what I did. I spoke to my wife. We Kirk's mom said let's go to the waiting room We had 13 family members there

[00:53:17] The 10 to 13 family members there was the whole room was packed with with our family we had So it was this the day of the accident or yeah, okay? Yeah, well that's the next day next the next day because

[00:53:34] That happened in the evening right the it happened in the evening and the next day was March 2nd, which was my birthday Cheese No kidding that was like

[00:53:45] Like that I he gave me my son Kirk gave me the best birthday presents ever, but he also gave me the worst one and With that being said

[00:53:54] I'm going to spend which I'll tell later on in the story about the things we're doing to make sure that that birthday never goes Goes to waste ever again, right? Hear that stuff So we show his picture on yeah

[00:54:09] Just hold it up right in front of you right here. Yeah, perfect. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah Handsome young man looking young man. Yeah. Yeah, there's graduation picture right here lady killer. Yeah for sure Yeah He's getting the scruff too

[00:54:26] You know we had a doctor come up to us and Say there's nothing we can do, you know like and it's not gonna get better. It's not gonna get better He's not gonna get healthy

[00:54:43] And believe me I asked about a million questions to the doctor because I didn't want to believe it Yeah, I didn't want to want to hear it Can't you heal this can't you do that? Can't you do that? Can't you do that and the doctor said no

[00:54:57] You know his nerves were severed in half leading up to his His brain. Yeah, it's the machine's keeping him breathing. There's just the medications keeping his heart going right now There was just like a few

[00:55:13] There's no way there's zero chance like like less than zero ever like zero zero zero Would you be interested in donating and saving people's lives I looked at my wife and I both looked at each other and we spoke and This is how my son lives on

[00:55:40] This is how our son lives on this is how Kirk lives on this is how you know He lives on through others seven other people seven other people So We went into the waiting room and I said if one person says no No

[00:56:01] What do we do what would you think Kirk would want to do? every one of them said yes That we should Well, that's a sign of the profound impact he had while he was still alive. Yeah, it really was in his

[00:56:21] Previous form. Yep, cuz clearly he's still alive, but he's in a different form Yeah we actually The day of So the the next day after the accident, you know, they pronounced them officially brain dead is nothing they can do

[00:56:44] We agreed to organ donation after speaking to the entire family in the waiting room one person said no It was a no, right? Like we we we didn't want to It had to be everyone yeah, right so The doctor said can you hold off another day? unlike well

[00:57:10] How come they found someone to take his heart except He gave me a little bit more information There was an Alberta clipper and when you get a heart transplant imagine you are getting a heart You need to pass yourself

[00:57:29] To get that heart. No, right? That is the scariest thing and the last resort ever They told us there was an Alberta clipper and they couldn't fly the team out With the recipient can you please wait one more day so we waited

[00:57:48] Because that was important to us right now His heart still beats that was important to us because he led his life with his heart He followed his heart everywhere. He went yeah, that heart was strong. It really was Still is You tell me about it. Yeah

[00:58:06] So so you know transplant Manitoba did end up sending us a letter from his heart recipient Okay, is that something they do? They facilitate when organ donors receive organs. Okay. Yeah now It's not often done, okay but if the recipient wants to send a letter to the

[00:58:31] to the Donors family or vice versa can happen However, the letters need to be vetted quite heavily by transplant Manitoba. There's no names. There's no locations There's no fair So there's no there's no Indicators of who they are. Yeah, right and that and that's something that

[00:58:55] Sorry, what's the come transplant management? I don't know is it that's their rule or if both parties agree that would want to meet It's their rule. Okay, and they cannot facilitate a meeting Okay

[00:59:07] Now there are face group Facebook groups and stuff like that where donors can meet meet Things like that, but we haven't really taken that route. Yeah So you were saying you received the letter we did receive a letter

[00:59:22] First off we I got a call from transplant Manitoba three months after and I'm like, oh no, what's going on like you like you don't That that feeling again came up and So they told me do you want a letter?

[00:59:45] They asked us if we wanted it because if we didn't want it then they wouldn't give it to us So I said, yeah, please send it to us So lady a lady got his His heart okay in the letter it states that her husband had just

[01:00:06] Died of heart failure. She was having heart failure her time was coming This was a last resort thing. She thinks about the donor every single day and how she keeps care of the heart and all this kind of stuff Prior to her getting the transplant

[01:00:25] She had a really bad cough she couldn't walk She had circulation issues. She couldn't even get out of you know, just out of bed period People would shop for her, you know, she was Her time was coming and she knew you know Three months after

[01:00:47] She said she thinks about The donor all the time And how she wants to take care of this heart to honor The donor he doesn't know she doesn't know if it's a him or her or anything

[01:01:03] She can now breathe. She no longer has a cough. She now gardens. She walks three blocks Jumping over hurdles Yeah, the most profound Impact that letter had on us is the end words now I get to see my grandchildren be born It's amazing. Yeah, it really was and

[01:01:27] With that being said Kirk I could feel through that letter That lady also navigated life through her heart. Yeah, I felt Kirk through that letter I bet yeah That that connection is there. Mm-hmm, right? It really is Yeah You know we we are so blessed that our son

[01:02:00] Kirk's heart does live on we're not blessed that Our tragedy happened but Seven people received miracles because of that tragedy He gave life to seven people he gave life to seven people and No matter dad or not how selfish could I be? to to ever not want to

[01:02:32] to to Give that miracle to seven other individuals. Yeah, absolutely You know Think about him every day. I look out the window look for him every day You know Everywhere with me. Yeah, I even have a tattoo of him. Yep um really interesting

[01:02:58] Story about my tattoo can I get into that a little bit? Yeah We talked about it a little bit off mics before Well, and I want to so is this part of kind of your yourself healing a little bit? Yes, right?

[01:03:09] Yes, because I'd like to I'd like to touch on that a little bit too. Yeah what you went through So after so the and I will um, you know every time I thought about kirk

[01:03:21] Fox would show up somewhere somehow don't know why I don't know how. Yeah, just happened just happened Got a fox as the tattoo artist is doing the fox My other son sends me a video of a fox running by

[01:03:41] Well, she's doing the whisker right there. Yeah, yeah, and I'm like look Yeah, it's play the lottery. Yeah, right, right. Yeah, um I have a guitar Um, you know with his heartbeat right in the middle because that was his heart the music was his heart. Yeah

[01:04:01] That's great. That's a beautiful two days before he uh passed. He sent me a song free bird Love the song. Yeah classic He sent it to me And there's a bird So before I got my tattoo, I'm like thinking in my head Okay I keep seeing birds

[01:04:24] Keep seeing foxes whenever I I think of my son yeah so I get into the car As I'm walking out like walking out the door. I'm like thinking in my head because I still talk to my son all the time

[01:04:39] Right mentally these listening on I'm talking out loud sometimes I'm like kirk, which one should I get? Turn the key on in the car. Guess what's playing on the radio free bird free bird You got it. You got it. It's free bird. Yeah, so I'm like, okay

[01:04:56] This is a coincidence. Yep, I shake it off. No, no I drive to the ig or not ig sobies I go in pick up, you know some medication or whatever my asthma Whatever come back to the car And then

[01:05:14] Guess what when I got back to to my truck. I look on the windshield as a bird feather On my windshield So i'm like, okay Who's playing with you? Yes. I'm listening buddy. I'm listening

[01:05:28] You know what I I think I think about this all the time all the synchronicities that that that occur from these things right like holy smokes and On the way home Okay, I had made up my mind. I'm like, okay, kirk you made up your mind

[01:05:42] That's I'm gonna get a bird. Okay. I'm gonna get a bird. You sent me free bird I free bird right now Feather on the you know on the on the hood of the car I turned down Grandmont boulevard and there's a park there

[01:05:59] Guess what what runs across the street? A fox. Yeah Can't make this shit up. No, no, you can't. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm like, okay. I'm gonna get both So I got both. So to give you a little context for me

[01:06:15] My wife's a medium for a living that's what she does for a living and she's a terror reader and a medium and so I hear stories of these things like All the time Yeah, people having these experiences and these like

[01:06:30] Very clear if you just shut up for two seconds You see it and you there is no other explanation Yeah, it really is just it is so definitively true. Yeah that there is no other way to explain it

[01:06:43] So, you know, I I like what you said win the lottery win the lottery. Yeah got them both done. Yeah And You know, that's awesome. I love that but a month after I get that done

[01:06:53] I'm looking at watch straps because I had you know, I'm started exercising again and stuff like that trying to keep mentally healthy and And I fall asleep with my iPhone looking at watch straps Had a dream there's Kirk in the dream Looks at me and he looked good

[01:07:14] He didn't look his this age. Yeah, he looked younger. Okay younger. Okay And he goes nice watch strap dad I woke up What is that? Yeah Another another example of of some of these things that were happening Day before father's day this year

[01:07:39] I'm thinking about him fall asleep because I'm running part of the marathon with some of my co-workers the next day Trying to get back into shape and stuff like that and In my dream I'm in the marathon running

[01:07:55] Everyone stopped like everybody stopped like in slow motion then stopped Kirk took two steps forward while everyone was frozen And smiled didn't say word How does this happen?

[01:08:16] Yeah, you know prior to to this I would have never believed any of any of this until it happens to you You you don't you don't right? Well, because you just don't have your your brain can't get there. Yeah. Yeah, and that's being

[01:08:30] Part of my healing process is knowing that he's somewhere He's with me and knowing that he's with us knowing that he's still There just in different in a different way. Yeah, and um That's beautiful. That's awesome. It really is. Yeah, it really is

[01:08:48] You know and that that is part of the healing process for sure is um You know you may miss him physically But you feel him You really do relationships changed. Yep the way you communicate the way you do things, but you still have one. That's right

[01:09:05] Still there. Yeah um You know my my son does your uh does your Wife or your son have Their own version of their own experiences with us and their own. Yeah. Yeah, that's awesome birds come to to my wife And yellow they did like the crow. Yep Um

[01:09:28] Free bird. Yeah So he's just around he's around he's hanging out. He really is. Um, you know, um There was one really big one that I was at a point where a suicidal

[01:09:44] Imagine your kid. Yeah, you know, like how do you how do you cope? I can't even imagine that I'm screaming to god yelling at him swearing at him How could you do this to me? I'm in the shower water's coming down my my face. It's it's hot

[01:10:03] I'm just screaming I need a sign that he's okay I hear this noise I like what the heck It sounded like a water running I opened the Open the shower curtain It's the sink here The hot water tap was on full blast

[01:10:30] I got a sign. I knew he was okay. Yeah, right then and there. I was like, okay That snapped me out of was that your turning point turning point of

[01:10:44] Okay, either I'm losing my mind and I left this on I second. Yes myself about 10 times 15 times like what the heck, you know Realistically I asked for that sign And I got it. No I asked for that sign

[01:11:02] To know that he was okay. Yeah, and I got it and that was my turning point of taking a different road of Not remembering the day of the horrific event the day of Which I can never forget because it's burned into my eyelids. Yeah, but I can take

[01:11:32] His beautiful story and I can Morph it to Not remembering the last day but to remember Kirk for who he was as a person and who he still is The days before and the days there's a lot more days before and there's an infinite amount afterwards. Yep so

[01:11:58] my wife and I spoke And um, we're like, well, how can we honor kirk? I mean the kids a hero save seven people's lives his heart's going all this kind of stuff How how can we honor him? Well that night This is what i'm talking about these synchronicities

[01:12:18] member of athletics manitoba comes up Drives to my house We want to have a track meet called the kirk cadman memorial classic Beautiful. Yep So We Were so honored. How do you say no to that right like holy smokes like yes, this this is amazing. That's how

[01:12:50] Profound Kirk did it he he influenced so many people in that The athletic community that yeah, that's amazing that they wanted to do that. Um, you know I like to think that he's an angel now He was a real angel in life. Yeah, he really was um

[01:13:08] They came to us. They said let's let's start this meet in kirks name Um, let's create a scholarship In his name called the kirk cadman scholarship fund Okay Let's do this. Yeah, so my wife and I took this We're like now

[01:13:30] Let's spread kirks message his heroism is never giving up How are we going to spread that message even in a more profound way? than We could verbally Usually people change when they feel right Not when they're spoken to but when they feel. Okay We set up

[01:13:58] Something called at the kirk cadman memorial classic, which is a track and field meet. It just actually occurred Just a couple weeks ago. Yeah, just a couple weeks ago. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, maybe uh, do you guys go?

[01:14:11] Yeah, we're part of the event. Um, you know with with that being said, um We themed it green for organ donation The medals were green. We had transplant manitoba show up as as one of the sponsors Yeah, um, we raised It's a lot of work, but we raised $8,000

[01:14:33] Now For the kirk cadman scholarship fund, which is going to go to athletes In the sport of track and field who May not have that opportunity To overcome those financial hurdles in the sport. That's amazing. A lot of people like like, you know

[01:14:54] You have family and track, right? Yeah, so You you know, um, it's not just about getting a pair of running shoes and I wasn't gonna ask Gas yeah trips Like yeah, it's expensive. Yeah, and we want to make sure that that some of these kids get that opportunity

[01:15:12] So this year we are proud to announce Our first recipient of the kirk cadman scholarship fund at the awards banquet for athletics manitoba, which is coming up in the uh fall

[01:15:26] That's amazing. It really is. Yeah, so he lives on that way as well. Yeah, he's just everywhere now at the meet This was very very important to me Um and my wife and my family How can we spread kirk's message and how do we make people feel?

[01:15:45] Which would change Help change Well, we call it the kirk cadman walk of dreams Remember when I told you kirk's how kirk taught me? I was a barrier. Yeah to his dream. I was the barrier Well now I want

[01:16:06] No barriers because we call every single person down from the crowd Onto the track and we do a ceremonial walk of dreams for kirk Um to to as we walk 400 meters symbolizing kirk Kirk's you know resilience of having an injury

[01:16:31] Saying okay, if I can't run a walk right and then runs again never giving up on dreams. Yeah. Yep, so we We want everyone to reflect. Yeah during that 400 meter walk Never giving up on your dreams and to reflect what your dreams are as you're walking and

[01:16:53] What hurdles are in your way? No pun intended. Yeah, yeah What hurdles are in your what obstacles are in your way and how to overcome them? We want The walk started last year This year we had hundreds and hundreds of people come down for this walk

[01:17:14] It was packed And I'm gonna send you pictures later Yeah, please do. Yeah. Yeah, we'd love to share that Absolutely And also I just wanted to get it. Yep. It sounds awesome. It's it was an amazing event. Uh, there are people crying. There is you know people

[01:17:30] And and it it's not really about Kirk It's about you It's about you Of what you want to do in life And What you need to do to get there, right? Well, which is what he did. Yeah, that's right

[01:17:49] It's about his spirit. It's about the spirit of his Tenacity and his refusal to give up or give up hope or not try Yep, and like that's those are all unbelievably honorable things and like

[01:18:02] If if everyone could inspire one person to do that, that's amazing. That's an amazing feat Yeah, never mind hundreds that he's still doing from wherever he is still to this day He he's still you know inspiring people to move forward and

[01:18:21] The community is his vessel. Yeah, and um You know kids a hero and um, you know He still continues to be an inspiration to others In a different way, yeah, and um, yeah So now he's got the kirk kadman memorial classic which is now on the second year

[01:18:44] He's got the kirk kadman scholarship fund which goes to athletes and now he's got the kirk kadman walk and dreams amazing three items and We're gonna share all that information Stuff. Yeah, please. That's just that's just such a

[01:18:59] Beautiful story. Oh, it was amazing out of such a tragedy. It's such a beautiful story. It really is. Yeah, it really is because We now know Okay, I could look at the day of And I could be a tornado

[01:19:19] Hit rock bottom and never be able to get up Or we could Take his essence take his spirit Move it forward in a profound way that can change others. Yeah It can have an impact on others and That's the the direction we want to take

[01:19:42] Because there is no other direction That we can take and get out of it. No, well, I'm you know, I'm Thinking now like when somebody passes away usually have a celebration of life But this way you guys get to celebrate his life multiple times a year with

[01:19:58] random strangers at these events And uh continue to grow his um his message, you know, and what he believed in Yeah, so the first year that we had the walk of dreams, you know, we had maybe a hundred 200 people Small which is still

[01:20:15] amazing. No, we had like five 600 people and I'm like holy smokes. Yeah, everyone came down and Pretty sure it's gonna grow. Yeah You're gonna need more space. Yeah, so so we were we're actually talking and uh, I think some of the goals for our future

[01:20:34] Is yeah, we're gonna have the Kirk Kadman memorial classic We'll just track and field meet and all that kind of stuff And the Kirk had had been scholarship, but To build that message we may expand the Kirk Kadman walk run of dreams for an actual

[01:20:48] Road racer walk, right? Yeah, so maybe a 10k or 5k or something like that. You you attract way more people, right? Well, and you're gonna hit a you're gonna hit a limit on a

[01:20:57] Track, yeah, like you probably did already. So we were close. I could I could look Back and I could see the uh, you know the tail already. So you're probably getting to that stage. Yeah but uh, yeah, and are you a big part of uh, like

[01:21:14] The organizing the all the things involved in these events like your you're at the head of that I'm assuming you and your family. Yeah our big participants and like organizers and all those things so My wife And I

[01:21:30] There are a couple of ways that we raised the funds bake sale My wife spent weeks making weeks Every night and then I would bag it To little individual thingies put it into the freezer for the for when the time came and then you know

[01:21:53] Little by little that those funds added up and up and up. Yeah So she did that every night and then I went to probably about 250 and I am not joking businesses

[01:22:05] Asking them to donate to a silent auction. You know, we had a few things at the meet that that um You know they could Sport check donated a thousand dollar bike Amazing. Yeah. So so a lot of revenue were coming for the for the scholarship, right?

[01:22:25] We had a 50-50 You know, we get 50% goes to the scholarship 50% Yeah, something else, right? You know, we had so I went probably like 250 businesses and Maybe 10 percent I donated even after me telling them and

[01:22:48] You know as I was a little taken back by that but I also understand we live in a very rough time right now Right and it's harder and businesses are Shuddering like they're they're hurting, right? Yeah So I was really really grateful for any

[01:23:05] Type of donation that they could offer whether it just be showing up at 10 percent is already on. Yeah. Yeah Yeah, and the ones some of the ones that Didn't donate actually showed up For the walk so that that was in a way

[01:23:22] You know their support their support, right? So it was it was a lot of Yeah, a lot of running around to do a lot of logistics A lot of emailing and this is what I'm saying. I really haven't had a break yet Yeah, you're about to

[01:23:41] Yeah, yeah, but also, I mean I believe that like because you were so busy prepping for all this That kind of helped you I don't want to use the word forget

[01:23:53] Because you'll never forget what happened, but yeah, it helped you cope with with the pain and and kind of probably focus on Okay, because you said like that day when you were in the shower. You had some really dark thoughts

[01:24:05] But like I guess going from there. It was only you were focusing on like her excmission Like this is what this is what you need to do and this is how you Heal and cope with with everything so in regards to So that day Um

[01:24:26] It took a lot I grew up, you know, man. Don't cry. Yeah, yeah, yeah All right, a lot of us grew up that way. Yeah everyone at this table for the most it was hard to pick up the phone

[01:24:40] And you know call out of manitoba to get counseling it was very hard. Yeah Most beautiful people in the world Cindy picked up the phone said i'm gonna move you to the front of the list because she knew

[01:24:55] How hard it was and I told her a hard it is And it what it what it happened and I don't know how to move forward Every week like an hour 20 minutes, you know, I would speak to someone at palliative mantoba They would help me Organize my thoughts

[01:25:20] Kind of helped me put myself back a little bit together. I'm not fully together. Um, I'm probably never gonna be fully Yeah, I have to be yeah, and you don't have to be yeah, that's right. That's right. I can just be me

[01:25:33] Yeah, that's right, and I can I'm okay with just being me. Um But when I mean like put myself together Well, how do How does making How so Mentally physically right I'd weighed almost 300 pounds because I was I was and I'm not joking like like 300 pounds almost

[01:26:01] I was eating ice cream. I was eating everything to to to to feel good I was eating right and eating and eating and Well, guess what I lost like 80 80 pounds And I'm running again now four miles a day and all this which is

[01:26:20] The help that palliative mantoba helped me change into a different direction of not thinking of that day But Thinking of kirk in a good way every day Not in a What I saw well, and it's also a result of the lesson. He taught you it is the lesson

[01:26:41] That goddamn lesson I'm sure you think about all the time I do think about that lesson all the time. He um, you know Well, this is his way of rubbing it continuously and he's gonna keep doing that and he would be happy thinking that

[01:26:54] He'll never be like haha dad Maybe maybe that's when you know when he's kind of laughing and that's when he sends the fox, you know That's right. That's right. And you know what so weird

[01:27:06] So when we got his phone, um, you know from the accident and stuff like that his last video So weird he videotaped fox His last video ever he was already telling you he was already. Yeah already. Yeah, um, you know

[01:27:26] I miss him dearly. I walk this world with a hole in my heart Of course my wife walks Hole in her heart my my other son hole in her so many people walk Now with a hole in their heart missing him dearly But

[01:27:44] You know, it's it's human nature to to To feel those feelings right? It's love. It is it's love and it's Not love loss but love changed. That's right. No, that's right But we we also know that we need to move forward

[01:28:02] In a way that we can spread kirks heroism what he did. It's important How he saved seven people how I can now save seven people upon my passing if You know If and when it ever happens And how others can now save people through

[01:28:23] The kirk kadman memorial classic and through the walk of dreams And because transplant manitoba is a partner with us doing that and athletics manitoba We have now Had hundreds of people sign up for organ donation That weren't before where

[01:28:42] Where can you do that if you're gonna do that? You can go to the transplant manitoba website and you can yeah, we want to share that Yeah, yeah, I mean You have to look at it this way

[01:28:53] Imagine your child needs needs something imagine the stress on that family every single day Imagine the parents not being able to sleep. Imagine what the child is going through right? I can't even think of my daughter needed that Yeah

[01:29:05] A how I would feel without it and b how I would feel after it Like I cannot even picture either of those scenarios. It's it's um It's a difficult scenario to but but it happens and it happens all the time and people die needlessly all the time

[01:29:20] And this can change This doesn't need to happen this way. Yeah, and Why wouldn't you want? To live on through others right and that's what kirk's doing. So it's what he's doing. Yeah Whether you like it or not Yes, yes, yeah I never met this person

[01:29:41] My wife's and my brother my brother-in-law's best friend He uh, this was before we even met They he was he was in an army. Okay, and one day basically it was just like You know what? I I have a hard time breathing everyone thought he's a pussy

[01:29:58] You know, he's whatever you can't handle it his lungs collapsed And so for about seven or eight years he was walking out with oxygen uh got married and um You know, he couldn't even really they couldn't really

[01:30:15] Do anything together. They really wanted to have a baby, but it would probably kill him right to try to have a Child he got a lung transplant And because of that They got a baby. Unfortunately passed away now

[01:30:30] Uh, but you know, he has that he had the option of having a child with his wife and He lives on through that child Exactly what I was thinking That's the only story that I

[01:30:45] Somewhat know through like closer to one it right and what if that child one day cures cancer or exactly becomes the next prime minister of Canada or something right or Donates their organs was they go to continue life. Yeah, exactly. So yeah, I know it's an amazing thing

[01:31:00] And yeah, like to me like I remember when I moved here from Europe and I got my my matatoma license and My wife was right. Hey, like there's this car that you can fill out. It was like instantly like yep Like if i'm dead like

[01:31:16] I really don't care what's gonna happen to my body because I know what's gonna happen to my body, you know And uh, if you can use something then sure when your time is is up I mean, I'm actually surprised

[01:31:28] Like i'm surprised if anybody would be against it, but I guess they're still Well, there's uh, there's a lot of there's a lot of hurdles in that and there's a lot of like attachment to your own Yes, yeah, I mean

[01:31:40] I personally don't understand those reasons right but like uh because i'm looking at it I believe in science and I believe And like I think if we can help why not? Yeah, and and that's that's exactly what what the message is if we can help

[01:31:55] Why not? Yeah, um There It's simple. Give me a bad reason why we couldn't right? Yeah for sure, you know, it's um It's that message, um, you know and Always make sure that you do talk to your family And you do let them know your wishes

[01:32:13] No matter if you have the card signed or not. Yeah, that's good. Thank you for sharing that because that's how many people probably don't know No, they don't I know I have a will. I don't know if it states in my will

[01:32:22] Um, but uh, I mean that's something like we talked about with my kids that hey There is that will in case something happens, right? And uh, but yeah, that's the very important topic to discuss for sure. Yeah. Yeah, and uh you know and even

[01:32:40] So kirk he was young we had never expected any and he probably never expected any of Being hit by some means stuff like that right like it was just a freak accident You know with that being said, you know sometimes

[01:32:56] This is why those conversations are important because sometimes there is no will right? Yeah, you know kirk was young There was no will kids his age don't have estates. They don't have these things, right?

[01:33:07] That's right. No, and you know, they just have a beginning of life. Yeah, and um You know and and when they do happen, you know I I just can't tell you enough have those conversations. It's it's so important

[01:33:23] To share those conversations with as many people as you can within your family so that When the time does come if you choose To donate that your wishes are that your wishes are well and you had said you you had you had clearly spoken about

[01:33:40] It was it had to be a unanimous vote With a bunch of people and like there was no question. So like his wishes were made And where he made them clear. Yeah, and you all made them clear

[01:33:52] Yeah, I mean and your uncle your uncle's story helped that for sure. It really did. Yeah I think what you're If you're listening to this and I like i'm taking this away from this

[01:34:03] I'm gonna have a conversation with my wife my parents my brothers like if I go This is what I want. Yeah, just do what I'm asking. This is what I want. So there's no debate There's no confusion. It's because in those times also there are times of distress

[01:34:18] And like your mind's clouded you're not sleeping you're unbelievably traumatized and like If those wishes are so clearly defined that it's not a question Which what happened in your situation? Yeah, this is always made quickly. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's amazing. Um

[01:34:37] I want to thank you so much for being here today. It was a pleasure being here. Thank you I I don't have any more words about this story. It's so beautiful and so sad I think I need a nap

[01:34:51] You know like the song every rose has its thorn, right? Yeah It it has its thorns, but it is beautiful I am so so grateful that you took time to come here and share with us and with our listeners and like

[01:35:02] I I just it's such a it's just a big fucking gift that you showed up here today to talk to us and like I really really appreciate that. I feel inspired and kirk if you're listening what you are Thank you for your sacrifice

[01:35:16] absolutely, I won't ever forget it and I Didn't even have to meet him. Yep. So I really really appreciate you being here. Um We want to share all the things about The walk and the track and the meat and all the things you guys are doing

[01:35:32] We will throw it all into pot scripts. Uh add links to it. So yeah, please don't be a stranger to the show Don't be a stranger to us our listeners if you have questions again like Quiet riot show at gmail.com Instagram at quiet riot show

[01:35:47] Ask anything you want. We'll happily connect you with any of this stuff or if you have questions just ask I've just again, I'm just so grateful. Thank you so much. Oh, thank you. Thanks for joining us. Thank you very much

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