Manitou Beach resident releases audiobook while continuing search for kidney donor

The book is the story of Gaudet’s life and being diagnosed at the age of 19 with end stage renal failure. Kidney dialysis was required for Gaudet as he waited for a kidney transplant which he eventually received from his brother.

The kidney gave the Manitou Beach resident another chance and served him well for around 34 years. Gaudet’s kidney function deteriorated in May of 2014 and he now receives weekly dialysis.

Along with all of this going on he has put his mark on many communities with his murals that have been installed in several communities including Tisdale, Young, and most recently at Manitou Beach. The Manitou mural was installed on the community hall as the centennial of the resort village approaches this summer.

Memories of Manitou mural painted by Michael Gaudet over the winter. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Bushman)

His book also includes details of his mural painting career.

In getting his book to audio form, Gaudet said that he was a guest on Shawn Broom’s podcast, The Story of You. It was then Gaudet found out Broom was also a professional sound engineer who also narrates audiobooks which he said brought his story to life.

“It’s already doing really great, we sold the first copy to a friend of mine in Norway,” Gaudet said.

He said with the rising popularity of audiobooks it was important to have his done. In a time where people are constantly looking to multitask, the audiobook plays a large role.

Gaudet said to listen back to his own story being told by someone else was surreal.

“All of these voices in my head when I’m writing, all of a sudden they to come life,” Gaudet said. “It really is just a different experience to hear someone else’s voice reading your book back to you.”

Gaudet spends four hours at each dialysis visit and said the audiobook will be a great fit for other dialysis patients.

He plans to create an audio version of his second book as well.

As he continues his treatments, Gaudet is on the search for a kidney donor once again and has been for a few years now.

“I did have a living donor lined up and all of her testing was very successful and she was recommended with a green light from Halifax. But when the file reached Saskatoon, they found a little crack in the armor so that’s off,” Gaudet said.

Recently, Gaudet took a more direct approach in his search when he wrote ‘Michael Gaudet wants a kidney donor’ on the back window of his car.

“I guess we’ll see how that goes,” Gaudet said. “Dialysis wouldn’t be my first choice for a lifestyle. It is life sustaining and I am very grateful for the technology that keeps me alive to fight another day.”

Gaudet has the Manitou Reflections project underway with two other artists Bob Thibault and Darrel Baschak. All of the money for the project was raised by the three artists and they are beginning their search for the steel needed for the wall.

The Manitou Reflections project is to be installed on the shore of Manitou Beach. (Submitted photo/Michael Gaudet)

The memories of Manitou mural will be officially unveiled in June, to commemorate the Manitou Beach centennial.

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angie.rolheiser@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser

by Angie Rolheiser

Manitou Beach resident releases audiobook while continuing search for kidney donor

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