NORTH BATTLEFORD — It’s been more than a week since Larry Labbe returned home to North Battleford after undergoing a life-changing double lung transplant.
“…Waking up 12 hours later (from the operation), I had no idea what had happened. Was it a dream? I just saw the nurses and I asked, ‘Am I alive?’ And they said, ‘Yes, you made it,’” Labbe recalled.
Labbe’s journey hasn’t been without challenges, he credits the support of his family, friends, and community for helping him stay strong through it all. A GoFundMe page set up by a close friend raised over $10,000 to help cover some of the costs of his medical treatment and recovery, a lifeline during the months he was unable to work.
"The generosity of people in my community has been incredible," Labbe said. "From the GoFundMe donations to the messages of encouragement — it’s been overwhelming in the best possible way."
Labbe is also grateful for the care and support he received from the staff at the hospital, and from the Saskatchewan Transplant Program, which coordinated his transplant.
"I can do a lot more by myself now, instead of depending on someone else,” said Labbe, adding that once difficult tasks have become manageable again. "For the last week, I've been able to go up the stairs, down the stairs, do my laundry... that's the nice part because to expect someone to do it all the time was tough."
Labbe spent years struggling with pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that slowly robbed him of his ability to breathe. As his illness worsened, simple daily tasks became increasingly difficult.
"I started a couple of years ago through this journey. I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, and it just got worse and worse. It was harder for me to breathe," Labbe explained, who was then working at the Don Ross Centre.
He was eventually placed on oxygen full-time, relying on it even for the most basic activities. After months of tests and evaluations, Labbe was placed on the transplant list in February.
But that all began to change when Labbe received a phone call on Aug. 24 that would alter the course of his life. "I was just resting a little bit, and the phone call came. The lady from Edmonton said, 'Are you ready?' I said, 'I'm ready to go,'" Labbe recalled, the excitement still fresh in his voice. That call was the moment Labbe had been waiting for an organ donor had be found.
The call came after months of waiting, uncertainty, and fear.
Labbe had been placed on the transplant list in February, but the process of being approved and staying healthy enough to undergo surgery was gruelling. He had to stay physically strong, often participating in rigorous exercise programs to ensure his body could handle the transplant.
"You need to be in shape because they would deny you if you weren't strong enough... they want you to stay as strong as you can," said Labbe.
When the call finally came, Labbe knew his life was about to change: "I was so anxious, but after talking with one of the nurses, my nerves eased, and I was like, 'Okay, let’s do this.’”
The next morning, Labbe was on a flight to Edmonton, where he underwent the transplant surgery. After six and a half hours in the operating room, he woke up with a new pair of lungs and a renewed sense of hope.
"Six and a half hours later, brand new lungs, and a brand new life," Labbe said.
For Labbe, the first signs of recovery were immediate. "Before, when I was on the oxygen, I had to slow down and stop because I'd have to catch my breath. Now I can talk lots and don’t worry. It’s a good thing," he said.
"The first six months are the most critical," he explained. "You have to protect yourself at all costs because your immune system is basically in shock, fighting against your new organs. It’s a delicate balance."
One of the toughest parts of his recovery was the isolation. Labbe is still required to wear a mask most of the time to protect himself from infection. "It’s like living through COVID all over again," he said, describing the strict precautions he must take. "You just have to be extra cautious. Even long after the first six months, it’s still crucial to stay healthy."
But through it all, Labbe never felt alone. He credits much of his strength to his sister Debbie, who has been a great help from the very beginning. When Labbe first received the call about the transplant, Labbe recalled, “Debbie was there. As soon as I asked, it was like, no problem, let's get this done.”
Debbie’s support went beyond just logistics; it was emotional as well. “My sister was 70 years old, but she just said, ‘I’ll help, no question.’ It was hard on her, though. After a week in Edmonton, she admitted that she hadn’t slept, she’d cried every night. She didn’t want to burden me with her stress. She wrote it all down in a diary, which she shared with me later. I was really touched… how do you even thank someone for something like that?" Labbe said.
"Just having to rely on my sister to take her away from her life... asking her to do such a big thing," Labbe said, his voice softening.
Now that he’s back home, Labbe is determined to start sharing his story with others to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.
"Please, think about it," he continued. "It'll save lives, save mine." Labbe hopes that by talking about his own experience, he can inspire others to sign up as organ donors. "Once we’re gone, we’re gone... but someone could use a tissue or organ. One person can save eight people. Just imagine, if we had more and more people doing that and speaking to their families about it."
Labbe said his life was saved by the generosity of a stranger, and now he wants to make sure that others get the same opportunity.
"I'm just so happy that I'm alive," he said.
“You know, you don’t realize just how emotional this process is until you’re in it. I was talking with some other patients during physio, and even the older guys were saying, ‘Larry, I’ve never cried so much in my life.’ Tears of joy, because you’ve received a gift of life. It’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t been through it, but you’re overwhelmed with gratitude and emotions. You just think, ‘Wow, I’ve been given another chance.’ It’s life-changing. And then the reality hits—you’re on this incredible journey, and it’s not over.”
As he continues to recover, Labbe is taking things one step at a time. But more than anything, he’s committed to becoming a voice for organ donation, by sharing his story at public speaking events, including presentations at schools and community groups, so that others might experience the same life-changing opportunity.
"On the waiting list alone in Canada, there are over 2,800 people for kidneys, 517 for a liver transplant, 133 for a heart transplant, 210 for lung transplants, and 171 for pancreas. It’s a lot of people waiting for organs, and the numbers need to be talked about more."
"I made a promise to God, I made a promise to everybody, that I’m going to go spread the word and get as many people interested in organ donation as I can."
