For patients with severe lung disease, a lung transplant may be their last hope for survival.
This journey demands bravery and resilience while also presenting immense challenges. Spanning months, a lung transplant process places significant demands on families, who additionally incur thousands of dollars in expenses not covered by our healthcare system. Although a lung transplant can offer hope, it involves a complex journey. In Canada, only four centers perform lung transplants: Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The Edmonton lung transplant program provides service to over 7 million Canadians that live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northern British Columbia, Manitoba, Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. This means that residents of Saskatchewan must journey to Edmonton to undergo a lung transplant.
“Fighting for your life and every breath is hard enough. The financial burden of being away from home is overwhelming. I considered not going through the transplant process largely due to the high cost of temporarily relocating. Breathing Space would remove that barrier.”~ Karen, Saskatoon, Lung Transplant Recipient
The extensive travel and out-of-pocket expenses required to travel to Edmonton can be a significant burden for patients and their caregivers. Patients must reside within a one- to two-hour range of the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton and be ready to stay for 3-12 months or longer, covering pre- and post-transplant periods. They are also required to travel to Edmonton with a caregiver which means both patients and caregivers have to leave their homes, jobs, support systems, and bear the cost of a temporary accommodation for months. Imagine having to undergo a lung transplant, a circumstance already filled with uncertainty, and also facing the burden of finding and paying for suitable accommodation for critical weeks of treatment. Tragically, some patients refuse this life-saving surgery because of the travel and financial burden they are faced with. Proceeding with a lung transplant should not depend on a person’s financial circumstances because being on a waiting list is already an unimaginable ordeal.
“Even if you are able to find accommodation, the space doesn’t always work. I struggled to get in and out of the tub. My wife had to drive across the city to find me a wheelchair. With Breathing Space, it will be designed with the patients needs in mind.” ~ Ralph, Shellbrook, Lung Transplant Recipient
We are reaching out to share a project close to our hearts (and lungs) that requires your empathy and generosity. It is about creating a sanctuary of hope for patients and their caregivers during the lung transplant process in Edmonton. Your support can make a remarkable difference in their lives, offering comfort and strength when they need it most.
“My transplant accommodations were costly, and quite a distance from the hospital. It would have been so much more convenient and worry-free had the Breathing Space been available for me.” ~ Donna, Saskatoon, Lung Transplant Recipient
Lung Saskatchewan and Alberta Lung have always been at the forefront of improving lung health and advocating for those affected by lung disease and those facing threats to their lung health. Today, we have an incredible opportunity to profoundly impact the lives of patients and families battling lung disease. Partnerships for our loved ones know no boundaries, and that is why we are uniting in a prairie alliance to ensure that no one has to turn down a lung transplant because they cannot afford accommodation. Lung Saskatchewan is proud to partner with Alberta Lung on its Breathing Space project in Edmonton—a haven designed to provide respite, comfort, and specialized care for individuals and families navigating the challenges they face on a lung transplant journey. This innovative facility will be the first of its kind in Western Canada, offering a compassionate environment where patients can receive the care they need while their families stay close by.
This sanctuary will support lung transplant patients and their families, giving them the space to heal, regain strength, and find support. The facility will feature 20 to 30 suites to accommodate patients and their caregivers, a communal kitchen, and a rooftop garden. Breathing Space will be a ‘home away from home’, providing a safe place to prepare for and recover from the lung transplant journey. Anyone receiving treatment at the Edmonton Lung transplant program will be referred to Breathing Space for housing. With your help, a second chance at life will be within reach for everyone. Your support can help us create this haven of hope, offering a safe and comforting place for patients and caregivers during their most challenging time. Together, we can ensure that no one faces the added burden of accommodation expenses when undergoing life-saving treatment. Thank you for supporting lung health for Saskatchewan residents.
Erin Kuan
President & CEO,
Lung Saskatchewan
P.S. Dealing with lung disease can be challenging, but no one should have to face it alone. Lung Saskatchewan has eight support groups including support for lung transplant patients, to provide a safe space for patients and caregivers to ask questions, share stories, and offer emotional and moral support to one another. Read Ralph, Donna, and Karen’s stories.