Vancouver shoe designer John Fluevog has unveiled a unique shoe named 'Patty,' a personal tribute to the friend who donated a kidney, saving his life. Fluevog, battling polycystic kidney disease, received a transplant in 2025 after his friend Patty Carmichael stepped forward as a match.
"The moment I realized I could do this is when I saw my blood match, and I knew I had to do this," Carmichael stated, moved by the non-coincidental connection.
Fluevog's new design celebrates Carmichael's selfless act. Partial proceeds from the 'Patty' shoe sales will benefit the Kidney Foundation. The designer hopes this story will inspire more Canadians to consider organ donation, a critical but often overlooked health issue impacting one in 10 individuals.