By Rosalind Russell – Angèle Labelle may have passed away, but her soul continues to live on through the selfless gift of being a donor, and her contribution is being acknowledged by Health Sciences North during Donor Month.
Bhanu Nalla, Chief of Critical Care at HSN, says Angele was deaf and blind and relied on wheelchair for mobility, passing away at 27 years of age in May of last year.
He says Angele is the first donor in Northeastern Ontario to participate in the Heart of the Box Program. This portable device maintains a donor heart in a beating, oxygenated state, similar to how it would function inside the body.
He says the donor heart can remain in the box for up to 12 hours, compared to three to four hours with traditional ice storage. This allows it to be transported anywhere in North America, and in Angele’s case, her heart saved the life of someone in the United States.
Dr. Nalla adds that the hospital recently received two awards for organ donation from the Trillium Gift of Life Network.
He says the institution has dedicated both the Hospital Achievement Award in Provincial Conversion and the Hospital Achievement Award for Provincial Eligible Approach Rate in Angele’s memory.
Angèle’s mother, Monique, fondly remembers her daughter’s enthusiasm for life’s simple pleasures, “Angèle enjoyed going for van rides, she got excited for her baths and water play, loved many types of music, but her favourite was Shania Twain. She laughed from her belly when she made messes and loud noises, and she always enjoyed being part of our conversations. She was the life of any room she was in.”
Her sister, Ashley, reflects, “Her strong spirit will always continue to live on and watch over us. Even better, her soul will continue to live through someone else, by her selflessness of being an organ donor.”
Photo provided: Included in the photo from left to right (back row): Dr. Pankaj Bhatia (HSN Chief of Staff), Melissa Bertrand (Administrative Director for Critical Care), Dr. Bhanu Nalla (HSN Medical Director for Critical Care), David McNeil (HSN President and CEO), Lisa Smith (Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive).
Front row: Ashley Labelle, Andre Labelle, Monique Labelle, Amanda Labelle and Megan Labelle.
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