The Gift of Breath: Lung Transplant Patient Support

NB Lung’s Transplant Support services continue to provide critical assistance to individuals navigating the complex and often overwhelming transplant journey. This year, we supported 42 patients through one-on-one guidance, including 21 who are currently undergoing the transplant process. For many, the journey extends beyond the surgery itself, and our program ensures ongoing care and personalized support to meet each patient’s unique needs.

To help ease financial burdens, we distributed eight $500 grants to help cover costs not covered by Medicare, such as travel and other essential expenses. Recognizing the pressing financial challenges faced by transplant patients, NB Lung worked closely with the provincial government to increase monthly rental coverage for transplant-related stays from $2,500 to $3,500. Additionally, five portable oxygen concentrators were loaned to patients in need, offering vital support for those requiring enhanced mobility and independence.

Our commitment extends beyond individual care to include policy advocacy, ensuring systemic changes that benefit transplant patients and their families. Through these efforts, NB Lung continues to champion improved access, support, and equity for those in need of life-saving transplants.

We sat down with David Roberts, one of our transplant patients to talk about his experience living with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and his transplant journey. Check out our interview with David here.

Climate Change & Human Health: Empowering Health Professionals

The Health Professionals for Action on Climate Change (HPACC) network has made significant strides in engaging health professionals to support New Brunswick’s Climate Action Plan, with the “Why Climate?“ podcast emerging as a centerpiece of this work. With this podcast, we invited health professionals and climate experts to discuss the connections between climate change and human health. By February 2023, the eight episodes had reached over 7,000 listeners.

The “Why Climate?“ podcast is complemented by a robust online portal for sharing resources, tools tailored for clinical use, and presentations. These efforts help health professionals spark essential conversations with patients, many of whom may be learning for the first time about the actions they can take to protect their health and address climate change.

Collaboration with the Nutsihpiluwewicik Indigenous nursing group enriched the podcast and other resources by integrating a One Health and Traditional Knowledge approach. This partnership ensured that materials were culturally informed and tailored for Indigenous health centers, advancing Truth and Reconciliation goals by creating space for traditional knowledge in climate-health discussions.

Angela’s Allies: Honouring Angela Stief Lea, a Radon Awareness Advocate

The Angela’s Allies Community Fund was established to honour the memory of Angela Stief Lea, a health-conscious physiotherapist from Havelock, New Brunswick, who passed away in April 2024 from radon-induced lung cancer. Angela’s determination to raise awareness about radon and prevent others from facing the same fate has inspired a legacy of action.

Angela’s Vision

After her lung cancer diagnosis, Angela had her home tested for radon when she remembered attending a NB Lung radon awareness event in the past. Her home recorded a staggering 9,999 Bq/m³ of radon. Health Canada recommends mitigation in homes where levels exceed 200Bq/m³. Despite her overwhelming diagnosis, Angela decided to dedicate her time to educating her neighbors, urging them to test their homes and take action against this invisible threat. With Angela’s blessing, NB Lung create the “Angela’s Allies Community Fund” to help raise awareness and enable New Brunswickers to overcome the financial barriers to testing for radon.

Continuing Angela’s Mission

The Angela’s Allies Community Fund directly addresses financial barriers to radon testing, ensuring that more New Brunswickers can safeguard their health. By expanding access to test kits and monitors and supporting community outreach, the fund is advancing Angela’s mission of creating healthier homes and saving lives. Thanks to Angela’s advocacy, and the Allies Community Fund, NB Lung has been able to test entire communities through our Community Radon Testing Drives, and by expanding out Radon Library Lending program. Her courageous efforts continue to inspire us, as well as communities across the province, to take action against this preventable form of lung cancer.

Radon Library Lending Program: Increasing Access to Radon Testing 

NB Lung’s Radon Library Lending Program launched this year with the goal of increasing awareness about radon and improving access to radon testing across the province. We initially received funding to deploy 20 short-term  home radon detectors at libraries, community health centers, and MLA offices in New Brunswick. While short-term screening with electronic devices  does not replace the need for long-term testing, it is a valuable first step in assessing radon and can provide an early warning of extremely high radon levels without needing to pay for a long-term test.

Thanks to support from the Angela’s Allies Community Fund, we were able to purchase an additional 20 home radon monitors, bringing the total to 40 monitors across the province. 

The program’s innovative approach allows New Brunswickers to borrow these monitors and make informed decisions about radon mitigation without financial barriers. Our Radon Library Lending Program is an important part of our broader efforts to address radon risks and supports our mission to protect New Brunswickers from radon-induced lung cancer through prevention and education.

Clean Air Day: Celebrating the Air We Share

Clean Air Day 2023 brought together Canadians from coast to coast in a powerful demonstration of collective action for air quality and environmental health. Spearheaded by NB Lung, the campaign engaged municipalities, schools, businesses, and individuals through events that highlighted the importance of clean air and sustainable practices. Some of this year’s successes include:

• -Free Public Transit: Seven municipalities, including Fredericton NB, Moncton NB, and Victoria BC, offered free public transit on June 7th, benefiting over 75,000 riders. Notable increases in ridership ranged from 2-5% in select cities, showcasing the potential for sustained public transit engagement.

• -Community Participation: 241 groups and 24 schools hosted Clean Air Day activities. Events ranged from nature walks and community clean-ups to “walking school buses,” involving over 600 students. Educational materials and worksheets were downloaded by teachers over 700 times, ensuring lasting impact.

• -Partnerships for Change: Collaborations with organizations like PaRx extended the impact of Clean Air Day throughout the summer, integrating its resources into outdoor education programs at BC provincial parks.

Shaping Policy to Protect Canadians: Toxic Chemicals Exposures

From June 2022 to March 2024, NB Lung, through the Canadian Network for Human Health and the Environment, led a project to strengthen civil society organizations’ (CSO) participation in Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan. This initiative focused on increasing CSOs’ capacity to engage with policymakers, establishing collaborative platforms, and educating the public on the importance of chemical safety.

NB Lung worked closely with CMP staff to facilitate meetings enabling CSOs to voice concerns and shape policy discussions. These sessions provided a rare opportunity for meaningful dialogue between advocacy groups and government representatives. Additionally, the organization established the Toxics Caucus under the Réseau Canadian Environmental Network, which became a hub for diverse perspectives on chemical management, particularly from underrepresented communities.

To broaden awareness, NB Lung produced educational resources, including infographics, newsletters, and “The Chemicals We Live With” podcast, reaching thousands across Canada. These efforts helped demystify Chemicals Management Plan processes and encouraged new participants to join the conversation.