Hundreds of Maritimers undergo organ transplants each year and Andrew Currie will soon join that club. He is waiting for a new pair of lungs, which, if found, will save his life.
"When I do get my call, I have to be in the hospital within two-and-a-half hours," says Currie.
The 41-year-old suffers from pulmonary fibrosis, a condition that causes the blood vessels in his lungs to harden. He can't work, he can barely walk and without a lung transplant he will die, but even then there is no guarantee.
"Survival rate for transplants is not 100 per cent, so there's a little fear of the unknown," says Currie.
The father of three also faces the difficult reality of not being able to work, which means no pay.
"Just the worry of bills and everything and going to Toronto is an extra expense," says Currie.
The transplant can't be done in Fredericton, so Currie is moving to Toronto so he can respond when a donor is found.
In the meantime, Currie has received plenty of support from his own community. People like Michelle Englehart are working on a committee that is organizing benefits for Currie and his family.
"Financially, I know he hadn't worked for a year and he was going through a rough time, and he still is and thought, well, if I could make a difference, why not?" says Englehart.
Currie says he is thankful and humbled by the efforts to support him. He figures the best way to thank people would be to do, in the future, some of the things he can't do now.
"Going for a walk, a good long walk with my wife and kids," says Currie.
Donations can be made to the Currie family at any Scotiabank location.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Andy Campbell
