In 2012 when Eric Celentano received a devastating diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis – a chronic disease characterized by scarring of the lung tissue – doctors gave him a sobering prognosis: two to five years to live.
Today, more than a decade later, Eric is living proof of the life-changing power of transplant medicine at UHN, and by leaving a gift in his will he is ensuring others will have the same chance at a second breath.
“In 2014 I moved from Vancouver to Toronto, where I was referred to the Interstitial Lung Disease Clinic at Toronto General Hospital,” remembers Eric.
For four years, his condition was managed under expert care at UHN’s Ajmera Transplant Centre, Canada’s largest transplant program. Here, more than 600 transplants are performed annually, and world-class follow-up care is provided to over 7,000 transplant recipients across the country.
As Eric’s health declined however, a transplant became necessary. Remarkably, he only had to wait seven weeks for surgery – far shorter than an expected six-month wait – and thanks to an exceptional team of caregivers and innovative technology, a successful recovery allowed him to resume normal life and return to the activities he loved.
“One of the interesting and unique things about my lung transplant case is my donor lungs were tested, treated and preserved on a system that was developed here at Toronto General called the Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion system,” explains Eric. This innovation was developed at UHN thanks to philanthropy, and is now used for approximately 40 per cent of lung transplant patients, dramatically improving outcomes.
A decision to give back
Over the years at UHN, Eric became aware of how financial support form UHN Foundation contributed to supplement the various services and programs he benefited from. This realization prompted him to become a monthly donor. As surgery time drew closer, he decided to include a gift in his will to the Foundation. “I’ll never be able to repay what they’ve done for me,” says Eric, “but I’m in a position where I can give something back.”
Although Canadians have access to a wonderful public health care system, Eric understands that donations are essential for fully funding the system, and leaving a gift in your will is just one of the ways to support this important cause.
“You never know when you’re going to need these services,” Eric explains. “If you go through life healthy and you never need it, great, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t consider giving to help others, and that’s really what it is – it’s all about helping others.”
For Eric, leaving a gift in his will represents a profound truth: the care that saved his life wasn’t just about him – it was about everyone who will follow. This generosity will help ensure that UHN’s world-class care, innovative treatments and breakthrough technologies like the Ex-Vivo Lung Perfusion System will continue saving lives, one breath at a time.
Any amount donated makes a difference in patients’ lives. Learn more about leaving a gift in your will.
