I have written about Hélène Campbell twice recently. She is a 20-year-old Ottawa woman who was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. It was decided that she would need a double lung transplant, and, while waiting for new lungs, she launched a successful campaign to increase organ donation – while gaining support from such people as Justin Bieber and Don Cherry, and appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
On Good Friday, just as hope was fading, she received new lungs. Despite a few setbacks, she has been doing quite well and is currently out of the hospital – which is happy news in the McLeod household.
Now, for all her work for organ donation, Ms. Campbell has received a Diamond Jubilee Medal, awarded to her by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. She is a most worthy recipient, I would say.
(And just to maintain my libertarian bona fides, yes, I do support – tentatively – the sale of organs to address our shortage of donors.)
