Toronto's Police Chief is about to be admitted to hospital, to have a kidney replaced.
Mark Saunders has been quietly undergoing kidney dialysis for the last 15 months, a gruelling regimen that takes seven hours each night.
Saunders will have the surgery on Monday. His wife, Stacey, will be the donor.
“If I was going to have someone else’s organ, why not let it be from the person you love?” Saunders told CTV news.
Surgery is expected to take a couple hours, according to Saunders, but recovery could take weeks.
"We hope to be up and walking as soon as possible, but we won't be able to lift anything for awhile." said Stacey Saunders.
The chief learned in the 90's that he was born with only one kidney. He later learned that he has kidney disease.
Once he started dialysis, his name was added to an organ donor list. At first Saunders tried to find a match with his brothers and sisters. But it was his wife who stepped up and wanted to be put in the lead.
“My wife, who is always one step in front of me, said ‘Nobody goes to do anything without me first.’ She took it upon herself to do the test and it was a match,” he said.
Saunders says he's nervous about the surgery but also partially excited. "I'm looking forward to where this leads," he said.
He also hopes to use this as an opportunity to promote organ donation.
"There are many people out there that, I think, need help. It's life or death," Saunders said. "Organ donations save lives...and I'll have an opportunity of hopefully seeing grandkids and growing old and so...I'm very humbled at that."
While the chief recovers, deputy chief James Ramer will assume his duties at Toronto Police.
Toronto Mayor John Tory has issued a statement wishing the chief well.
It reads, in part, "Battling kidney disease while serving as the Chief of Police could not have been easy. It's a testament to the Chief's strength and determination. I know that will serve him well as he goes through this transplant procedure.
I commend the Chief for urging people to sign up for the organ donation program.
I know we all look forward to the Chief being back on the job soon."
With files from Tiffany Hendsbee