Breathing Space

One in five Albertans and one in five Canadians are living with lung disease. Lung disease can strike anyone. The firefighter who breathes toxic fumes while saving lives, the athlete diagnosed with a rare lung disease, the child with cystic fibrosis who might not live to see adulthood.

For some, their only hope to stay alive is a lung transplant.

Edmonton is one of only four centres in Canada that offers lung transplant surgery. And the organ donation and transplantation system at the University of Alberta Hospital, is the second largest and most comprehensive organ and tissue transplant program in Canada.
The transplant program is ranked sixth in the world for transplanting excellence in clinical care and research. In terms of patient outcomes, it ranks in the top 10 per cent worldwide.

The path towards transplant requires tremendous mental, emotional and financial commitment. Our health care system covers the costs of the surgery, but patients and families face tens of thousands of dollars in out of pocket expenses for travel, living arrangements, food and medication.

Patients who qualify for a lung transplant must travel to the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton with a support person. This means two people are required to leave their homes, jobs and community, pay to stay in temporary accommodations for months, and commit to long distance travel for checkups and medical appointments. It is a significant and often daunting financial and emotional burden.

For this reason, the decision of whether or not to pursue this life-saving surgery is determined by a patient’s financial means, rather than on their chance of recovery. Some, choose death over placing this financial burden on their family and loved ones.