My Second First Breath | Hélène Campbell | TEDxAlgonquinCollege

Hélène, tells us her real life story of needing a double lung transplant and the impact it had on her life. She shares her story in hope of bringing to you a new appreciation of life.

Hélène, with some of her friends told her story while she awaited a double lung transplant and something just clicked. She danced into the hearts and minds of tens of thousands as her story went viral, and before she knew it, she had become a global champion for organ donation. The resulting impact on organ donation registration in Ontario was so monumental it was named the “Hélène Effect”.

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My sister dealt with IPF and a double lung transplant. Although she was in her late 50’s when she was diagnosed, her experiences were similar to Helene’s.

One thing that sticks in my mind most was when the doctors said the surgery was going to be at 10:30 at night. I asked why start so late, when it was expected to be a 10 to 12 hour surgery. They said that they needed multiple surgical suites available, because an organ donor can give new life to multiple recipients. Lungs to one patient, kidneys to another, liver to a third, heart to a fourth, etc.

That explanation really opened my eyes to the value of organ donors. One person’s tragic loss of life can provide a new life for multiple recipients. Organ donation is the greatest act of kindness that I have ever seen.