The Ottawa lung transplant recipient, who suffers from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, appeared on the talk show Tuesday, a year after first tweeting to raise awareness about organ donation. Ten months after her surgery, she danced onto the show to Justin Bieber's "Baby" and cut a rug with the host.
"I can't believe I'm here!" Campbell squealed. "I'm shaking -- partially meds, partially just nerves."
The 21-year-old Canadian explained that her new lungs ("it's not a cure, it's a treatment") were now at 73 percent function, which explained her renewed energy (though she did have to wait a year following surgery to travel).
Campbell also discussed her new friend, Justin Bieber, who tweeted his support of her campaign back in January 2012. "He's such a great guy," she said.
Bieber met Campbell in June, and the Stratford native's grandparents took her on a tour of his home and even let her walk their dog. Not only that, but they also gave her a pretty precious souvenir: a pair of their grandson's Ellen undies!
"Look at this, so cute!" Campbell cooed, holding up the underwear before Ellen signed them and promised to get Bieber to do the same in order to auction them off. The money will go to Campbell's newly launched Give 2 Live campaign, which supports transplant research and families waiting for organ donation.
Following her interview with Ellen, Campbell tweeted, "a huge thanks to @justinbieber and @TheEllenShow for the help with the #Give2Live Campaign! #transplants and #underwear."
To celebrate, here's a chronology of Campbell's road from Canada's capital city to "Ellen":
January 2012: Campbell moves from her hometown of Ottawa (where they do not perform lung transplants) to Toronto and is put on a transplant waiting list.
January 19, 2012: Campbell starts the Twitter campaign #BeAnOrganDonor to get Bieber's attention.
January 21, 2012: The Bieb abides. "@alungstory i got the word....you have amazing strength. i got u. #BeAnOrganDonor," he tweets.
January 24, 2012: The Trillium Gift of Life Network reports 1,000 new online registrations since Campbell's tweet.
February 15, 2012: Ellen calls Campbell live on her show via Skype. "Mom, can you please turn up my oxygen," Campbell says with a laugh as she becomes breathless following the surprise call. Ellen sends her to the premiere of "The Hunger Games" in Toronto.
April 6, 2012: Campbell undergoes a double lung transplant at the Toronto General Hospital.
April 20, 2012: The Ottawa Sun reports registrations for organ donations in Ottawa have surpassed 8,000 since December 2011. The Trillium Gift of Life Network (TLGN) calls it the "Hélène Campbell effect."
May 25, 2012: Seven weeks after receiving her double lung transplant, Campbell appears via Skype on "Ellen" again. "I feel amazing," she says. Ellen promises to dance with Hélène on the show as soon as the young Canadian is well enough to travel.
June 17, 2012: Bieber meets Campbell while he's in Toronto for one of his gigs. "My grandparents went to visit her," he tells the Toronto Star. “I’m just getting to meet her and stuff because I’ve never met her yet.”
July 18, 2012: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper awards Campbell the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for raising awareness of organ donation.
February 19, 2013: Campbell appears on "Ellen."
What a difference a year makes!
Tolong Share ya ^^
Judul: Hélène Campbell’s road to ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’
Artikel di Publish 8:34 PM
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Artikel di Publish 8:34 PM
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