Welcome Home Peter

Early in the morning of August 15th 2007, in the middle of the 401, the transplant pager finally went off. Eight hours later, a man was rolled into the Operating Room for a second chance many of us do not get to see. Within hours of waking, surrounded by his family, Peter was chatting, laughing and even walking. The first time he saw his chest, without the bandages, watching each lung fill and deflate one breathe at a time, we all watched with quiet amazement.

In 2003, Peter Olsen, co-owner of Royal City Nursery was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis – a condition that scars the lining of the lungs, causing shortness of breath, fatigue, hacking coughs, loss of appetite and extreme discomfort in the chest. As the condition worsens the lungs ability to synthesize oxygen into the blood stream decreases.

Up until August 15, we all remember Peter gasping for breathe and pulling his cart of oxygen behind him just to get through the day. Even though Lung transplant recipients have an 88% chance of recovery, the biggest challenge of all, the threat of rejection will be forever present.

After three months in Toronto, we were finally able to welcome Peter back home. Back at work on November 19th, Peter is finally able to contribute the way he wants too. This spring will mark a very different season for those of us in the Royal City family – we are proud and honoured to have our father back, not just at home but at work. It just isn’t the same without you Dad, welcome home!!

The outpouring of support from the Community has been amazing and profound. We appreciate all your well wishes, thoughts and prayers,
After careful consideration, we have set up a fund to be donated to the treadmill room on the 12th floor of Toronto General Hospital. This is where Peter gained the physical and mental strength to prepare for the transplant and the long recovery process. As family of a recipient, we can not think of a better way to assist those in need of a clear breathe, than to offer the link below for a tremendous gift of life.

Donate today!
Your donation will go directly to the Treadmill room's Equipment Fund, to purchase treadmills, wheel chairs and stationary bicycles so all potential and recovering lung recipients may be in good health before and after a transplant. Thank you for all your help.

Tanya Olsen and family

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