The youngest person to receive a lung transplant in Quebec

Interview with Odile Lefrancois

At 15, you became the youngest person to receive a lung transplant in Quebec. How did you experience waiting for the transplant?

Waiting for a transplant is above all a very long road where you lose a bit of independence at every turn. First, to no longer be able to have a regular daily life, then to be more and more dependent on all the machines that surround us. In this sense, a very difficult situation for me, especially when I watched the rest of my friends go through adolescence without me really being there.

How did the transplant take place and the following months?

Since I was really out of shape at the time of my transplant, recovery was quite difficult. I had to learn to walk and move again because my muscles were so atrophied, and because of a small complication, eating was also difficult for me. Even so, four months later I was back in high school like any ordinary teenager.

Has your outlook on life changed since you received this gift of life?

I would say that I have learned a lot about the great value of taking care of yourself and respecting your own boundaries. Even today, I am more tired than the majority of people around me and choosing where I focus my energy helps me to really enjoy each moment. At the same time, I am more accepting of every opportunity that comes my way rather than being afraid of them. You never know if the chance will come your way.

What are your life plans?

I would like to travel to several places and pursue studies in writing, but at the moment everything is still uncertain. I keep the habit of not projecting myself into the future so my projects are often planned at the last minute. Despite this, I allow myself to dream of big things.

What would you say to someone who is hesitant to get a transplant?

I have a philosophy that is, “What is the worst that could happen? ” The worst remains the same, except that everything before and after this famous worst can only be much better. It's the risk of a second chance!

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