含羞草研究社淵ou know you are saving my life, right?含羞草研究社�

Those are the first words Princeton含羞草研究社檚 Christine Unrau said to her benefactor Gary Johal, who is willing to put up as much money as it takes so that Unrau can receive a double lung transplant, as soon as a matching donor is found.

Despite an earlier GoFundMe campaign that raised more than $25,000, it含羞草研究社檚 estimated the cost of post-operative care could easily exceed $40,000.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 going to be in this with you until the end,含羞草研究社� he told Unrau, after presenting her with a bouquet of flowers and a warm embrace.

The two met at Princeton含羞草研究社檚 Copper Pit Restaurant, Saturday, March 23.

含羞草研究社淚 will cover the cost, whatever it is. If it goes to $50,000 or $60,000, it doesn含羞草研究社檛 really matter.含羞草研究社�

Johal, a successful entrepreneur from Penticton, learned of Unrau含羞草研究社檚 plight through media reports, earlier this week

Following surgery, Unrau will need to live in Vancouver between three and six months, with her husband Arlen, who will be her required caregiver the entire time.

The costs, which are not covered by the province, were beyond the family含羞草研究社檚 reach. Unrau removed her name from the transplant registry in January, for that reason.

Johal was drawn into Unrau含羞草研究社檚 journey because of his father, he told Black Press.

The family patriarch spent six years on a waiting list for a kidney transplant.

含羞草研究社淚 know the pain and the stress and when I saw (her) name was taken off the list it broke my heart. It was devastating.含羞草研究社�

Johal含羞草研究社檚 dad eventually had successful transplant surgery.

Claiming good fortune, 含羞草研究社渨e were able to pay all the expenses,含羞草研究社� he said.

In turn: 含羞草研究社淚 feel this is my duty as a Canadian.含羞草研究社�

Johal immigrated in 1997, from India, and landed a job as a clerk at a Mac含羞草研究社檚 convenience store in Penticton.

Two years later he was the franchisee, and he and his family continued to build on that success. He now operates more than fifteen small businesses across the province, and exercises philanthropy regularly, along with his brother, supporting health care initiatives in several cities, as well as community events and festivals.

Unrau called Johal 含羞草研究社渁n angel on earth.含羞草研究社� She plans to give back in the only way she can right now, which is to promote the need for policy change that will mean 含羞草研究社渘o one will have to die because they don含羞草研究社檛 have money.含羞草研究社�

Unrau has been invited to visit Victoria and meet with Premier David Eby to discuss the issues, and she is partnered with the BC Rural Health Network, based out of Princeton,.

Executive director Paul Adams reported there are 450 transplant surgeries performed in Vancouver every year, but 150 of those patients come from outside the Fraser Valley.

The organization含羞草研究社檚 goal is to ensure that all B.C. residents have access to health care without a financial penalty.

含羞草研究社淒o you have enough money to be able to move to Vancouver in order to get surgery? That含羞草研究社檚 the inequity and it含羞草研究社檚 really egregious. It含羞草研究社檚 one of the most egregious inequities that rural residents face,含羞草研究社� he told the Spotlight in an earlier interview.含羞草研究社�

Unrau said she is normally a private person, and it含羞草研究社檚 difficult for her take a front-and-centre role in such a high profile issue.

含羞草研究社淏ut I含羞草研究社檓 gonna stir things up. I含羞草研究社檓 not going to be quiet.含羞草研究社�

To Johal, Adams said, 含羞草研究社淵ou are saving Chris含羞草研究社� life, and Chris is going to save many more lives.含羞草研究社�