My name is Shillane Labbett and I was born in Kingston, Ontario in the early seventies with the genetic condition Cystic Fibrosis (CF). CF is a multi-system disease that affects mainly the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. It is a chronic disorder requiring a great deal of medical care throughout one's life and becomes progressively worse with time before ending in lung failure.
Stories of the TAA
The TAA feels that the most effective way of communicating the impact made through the "Gift of Life" is by having transplant recipients, live donors, and donor familes submit stories on how organ donation and transplantation has affected their lives. Our most recent story is directly below, with others underneath.
Other Stories
This story begins at a sporting event on a hot summer afternoon in August of 1998. As we climbed up into the bleachers, I noticed a distinct shortness of breath. Little did I know at the time, this was the beginning of life changing events.
Mike Berry was born and raised in Kingston, ON, Canada. He is a carpenter by trade and is employed at the Kingston General Hospital.
When a person has developed an incurable lung disease they will face many challenges from drugs, therapy, doctors, family, friends and do-gooders.
It was January of 2002, I went to work, came home, cooked dinner and looked after my two daughters. I started to feel very unwell; it got worse as the days went by.
This story begins at a sporting event on a hot summer afternoon in August of 1998. As we climbed up into the bleachers, I noticed a distinct shortness of breath. Little did I know at the time, this was the beginning of life changing events.