Rick Stiebel

B次元官网网址 Staff

The fact a family he will never get to know took a few minutes to fill in a form has let Mike Gravelle breathe a little easier for the past 16 years.

Gravelle, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was just 18 months old, was rapidly closing in on his last breath before he received a double lung transplant in 2003. B次元官网网址淲hen I got on the operating table I was down to 118 pounds and my lung function was at 18 per cent,B次元官网网址� said the six-foot-one co-owner of the West Shore Barber Shop on Goldstream Avenue.

According to Canadian law, recipients of organs are not allowed to contact the donorB次元官网网址檚 family, and the donorB次元官网网址檚 family are not able to know the identity of who they assisted, Gravelle explained. B次元官网网址淚 was able to send them an anonymous thank you card to express how grateful I am for the gift of life.B次元官网网址�

READ ALSO: Transplant caregiver starts website for financial, mental health support

When he was diagnosed, the average life expectancy for someone with CF was about 30 years. GravelleB次元官网网址檚 lung function was spiralling downward rapidly by the time he turned 23.

There was only one double lung transplant performed in Vancouver that year, and only a couple the year before, so Gravelle had no option but to go to Toronto for his surgery.

B次元官网网址淭hings have definitely improved and thatB次元官网网址檚 great to see,B次元官网网址� noted the 46-year-old Colwood resident. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been more than 50 transplants a year in Vancouver the last couple of years. IB次元官网网址檓 able to lead a normal active life now. IB次元官网网址檓 very positive IB次元官网网址檝e got a lot of years left.B次元官网网址�

There isnB次元官网网址檛 a lot of data available on people 16 years post surgery, however, he noted. Although he must strictly adhere to a regimen of three prescriptions twice a day for the rest of his life, Gravelle says thatB次元官网网址檚 a B次元官网网址渟mall price to pay,B次元官网网址� and heB次元官网网址檚 focused on the years ahead with his wife, Crystal Daigneault, his partner for the past 12 years.

READ ALSO: Simon Keith undergoes second heart transplant

Maintaining a positive outlook wasnB次元官网网址檛 always easy, he admitted, especially in the last two years before the surgery. B次元官网网址淚 always hoped for the best, but I had some dark times as well. IB次元官网网址檓 still absolutely overwhelmed by the support from the people in my hometown of Lake Cowichan and on the West Shore. They raised enough money to cover my accommodations and living expenses during the 11 months I had to live in Toronto, and IB次元官网网址檒l always be so grateful for that.B次元官网网址�

WhatB次元官网网址檚 extremely important to Gravelle at this juncture of his life is getting out the message of the importance of helping others through organ transplants.

B次元官网网址淚 hope anyone hearing my story signs up to be an organ donor,B次元官网网址� he stressed. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 living proof of the difference a second chance at life can make. ItB次元官网网址檚 an amazing way to turn a tragedy into a miracle for someone else.B次元官网网址�

To sign up as a donor or for more information, check out .

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