BREATH UNLIMITED- BE A LIFE DONOR
We support lung transplantation, with actions

Breath Unlimited for all.

The majority of Cystic Fibrosis patients end up with respiratory failure at a young age. The only option for their salvation so far is a lung transplant. But transplantation is also a survival option for patients with other respiratory diseases, such as chronic respiratory failure, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and more. With the recent pandemic we have unfortunately all come closer with images of our fellow citizens struggling to breathe.

“On the initiative of our Association, a transnational agreement was reached between the National Transplantation Organisation (EOM) and the Austrian Transplant Centre. With this agreement, we succeeded in saving an average of 5 of our patients with Cystic Fibrosis (and not only) per year, who were undergoing lung transplantation in Austria from 2015 to 2019, when this cooperation programme was discontinued. But each country has to make its own effort to secure transplants. Thus, in June 2019, the Greek transplantation programme started in our country at the Onassis Heart Surgery Centre, with the support of the Onassis Foundation. To date, a year and a half later, only one lung transplant has been announced in Greece, with one of the main reasons being the lack of lung transplants. Unfortunately, our country has a negative record in organ donation. Lungs in particular require even more effort than other organs. It is a fragile transplant and we have only one year since the Greek lung transplant programme started, while at the same time we are going through a historical moment and challenge with the covid-19 pandemic that should not stand in the way.”

states the President of the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association, Anna Spinou, who is in respiratory failure and joined through early access to the revolutionary treatment, which all indications are that it will prolong her need for a lung transplant for some years.

Be a life donor- unlimited breath

“A key element of the campaign “Breath Unlimited – Be a life donor” is the mural at the General Hospital of Nice. This is one of the largest hospitals in our country that can contribute to the overall effort that should be made by every hospital – especially the larger ones, as the Intensive Care Units are the valuable pool of potential donors. At the same time, it will act as a landmark and a key daily reminder to citizens and hospital visitors of the message of organ donation.

This particular mural is particularly valuable as it depicts a real Cystic Fibrosis patient who had a lung transplant in 2016 in Austria at the age of 18.

“In Lena’s face we capture the patient of every age and condition who is in respiratory failure. She wears an oxygen delivery mask struggling daily with what she lacks, her breath. She offers the tip of the tube to each of us so that we can give her unlimited breath with a lung transplant. The chain of organ donation starts with the intensivists in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) by identifying potential donors. But transplantation without a graft does not exist. That is why we call on each and every one of you to give us a 2nd chance at life.”

says Dimitris Kontopidis, director of Humane, which implemented the campaign of the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association.

We support lung transplantation, with actions

The reversal of our country’s negative performance in organ donation can be initiated by each and every one of us.

Go to the National Transplant Organization’s website here and register as an organ donor.

Give us unlimited breath with one click!

Watch the campaign’s video spotlight here.

Watch the video of the President’s campaign message here.

The “Breathe Unlimited – Be a life donor” campaign is organised by the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association under the auspices of the National Transplantation Organisation. The campaign was implemented by “Humane” with the support of “Aegeas”, an urban non-profit company of cultural and public benefit project, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The mural is hosted at the General Hospital of Nikaia “Agios Panteleimon” after the immediate response of the hospital’s Governor Mr. Mytoglou Anastasios with design by “Humane” and implementation by Urban act and the artist same84 with the support of flame & drone photography.

The representatives of the Hellenic Cystic Fibrosis Association in collaboration with the former President of the National Transplantation Organization (NTO), Mr. Andreas Karabinis, took the lead in developing the transnational agreement between our country and Austria for lung transplantation for patients with Cystic Fibrosis from 2014-2019.