“The home, at 10424 University Avenue called Breathing Space, will cost $15 million – 25 per cent of the cost has already been raised – and it will be the first home away from home for lung transplant patients and families”
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Help is on the way to help lung transfer qualifiers who would rather face death than place additional financial burden on their families.
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A lively crowd of 650 people Saturday night enjoyed an outstanding seven-course meal before donating $500,000 to help transplant patients who need “breathing space” in their fight to regain strength and vitality.
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The generosity of Edmontonians from all walks of life came at the Edmonton Expo Centre during the 31st Annual Sorrentino’s Garlic Festival.
“Alberta Lung, founded in 1939 during the tuberculosis epidemic, plans to build a four-storey home away from home with 30 suites, a large commercial kitchen and dining room and living room,” says Carmelo Rago Jr., the eldest son of Sorrentino’s restaurant chain founders Carmelo and Stella Rago.
“The home, at 10424 University Ave. called Breathing Space, will cost $15 million — 25 per cent of the cost has already been raised — and it will be the first home away from home for lung transplant patients and families.”
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Edmonton has the largest catchment area in the world for lung transplants, serving six million square kilometres in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and all the territories. One in five Albertans (and Canadians) has lung disease.
“Patients who qualify for a lung transplant must travel to the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton with a support person,” says Jackie Rae Greening, honorary campaign chairwoman of the Breathing Space.
“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.
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“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.”
The business highlight of Sorrentino’s night — a balloon pop, with a $300 cost for a balloon, brought in $90,000. Attracting many was the possibility of a $20,000 prize, which included a three-day, all-inclusive VIP tour of Tuscany and tickets to an Andrea Bocelli concert live in his hometown of Lajatico.
He did it his way
Guest Darcy Murdock told a riveting story of how he was diagnosed with a lung disease at the age of 54. When first diagnosed as being sick, he was angry, depressed, and afraid. He still had a lot of living to do.
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Murdock was put on oxygen and struggled with the stigma of carrying it around while people stared and judged him.
Normal everyday things, such as walking up stairs, showering and walking to the park, he found exhausting. He couldn’t get enough air. He felt hopeless, helpless and didn’t want to die.
He was forced to put his career on hold, which impacted him in many areas of his life, including his livelihood.
His lung function declined so much he was put through the gruelling process of preparing for a lung transplant. He met a social worker, a psychologist and a team of doctors seeking to determine if he could withstand an eight-hour surgery and a long recovery.
What little energy he had left he put into getting into shape for surgery. From diagnosis to surgery, it was three long and emotional years. His trials had also depleted most of his savings.
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One day, he woke up to a knock on his door and found a transplant team trying to get hold of him urgently. Lungs that would be a match for him had been found.
Waking up after surgery in the ICU was surreal, he said.
“I thought, wow, I’m alive,” he declared. “This really happened. I can breathe again.”
Getting a second breath meant to him that he was getting a second chance at life — and doing the things he loves.
“I was reborn and with a fresh start, I had a new attitude. I respected my body and life much more now.”
When someone began to sing Saturday night, guests looked up to the stage.
There was Murdock singing the song Frank Sinatra made famous, My Way.
“I’ve lived a life that’s full, I travelled each and every highway, and more, much more, I did it, I did it my way.”
Everyone in the room stood and applauded enthusiastically.
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