Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Congratulates Helene Campbell On Her Organ And Tissue Donation Advocacy Efforts

Market Watch


CHICAGO, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Canadian Double-Lung Transplant Recipient Receives Diamond Jubilee Medal from Canadian Prime Minister Harper

In her first public appearance since her surgery, 21-year-old, double-lung transplant recipient Helene Campbell held a press conference today about her journey and work promoting organ donation. Yesterday the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper awarded Ms. Campbell with the Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work raising awareness about organ donation and her personal courage in her fight against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Ms. Campbell's social media campaign for organ donation advocacy gained international status when celebrities became engaged by her story. Through her work via the Twitter account @alungstory and her personal blog, Campbell garnered the attention of Justin Bieber and Ellen DeGeneres which led to a rapid and continued increase in her following. Now, with nearly 15,500 followers on Twitter and thousands of blog readers, Campbell is a renowned social media advocate promoting organ donation in her vital educational campaign.

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is particularly grateful for the awareness Ms. Campbell brings to organ and tissue donation and to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In July of 2011, Helene was diagnosed with IPF. With no FDA-approved treatment or cure for IPF, Helene's physician recommended a lung transplant.

Considering that IPF is a main reason for lung transplantation, and that the demand for lungs exceeds the supply, Helene's message is extremely important to the pulmonary fibrosis community.

Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pulmonary-fibrosis-foundation-congratulates-helene-campbell-on-her-organ-and-tissue-donation-advocacy-efforts-2012-05-24

{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}