Montreal firefighter, Michael Lavigne, has regained his vision after finally undergoing cataract surgery that was long overdue. Following the surgery on December 15th, Lavigne can now see familiar faces just in time for the holiday season.
Expressing his joy, Lavigne exclaimed, “I was not able to see and now I am.”
Supported by his devoted sister Tammy and mother Connie, Lavigne’s journey to restored vision faced hurdles when a stroke in July 2022, at the age of 51, left him paralyzed. Despite challenges with mobility and speech, Lavigne maintained his cognitive abilities as his vision deteriorated over time, making access to care increasingly challenging.
Tammy shared her elation, saying, “It’s so amazing, exciting, I’m over the moon happy for him. He is so strong, so patient. We fought so hard and it finally happened. And it’s neat seeing how he’s reacting to like a couple of his friends and different things on TV that he’s like, wow, wow, like his friends, he hasn’t seen in forever, seeing them.”
Although Lavigne can now see, he faces the need for significant dental work, requiring implants to enable him to eat certain foods and enhance his speech. While he began dental work at McGill University, uncertainty remains about their ability to perform the required implants. Lavigne is in search of a specialist who can cater to his needs and is also seeking financial support for the implant surgery costs.
Tammy expressed hope, stating, “So we’re hoping that there’s something, anything, praying that somebody can come forward that can help Mike with that as well. Some dentist, something that somebody can help that, not only because he cannot have dentures, there’s no way it has to be implants.”
Despite these challenges, Lavigne is relishing the opportunity to rediscover the world through his revitalized vision and cherishing moments with his loved ones.
“It’s so nice that I’m able to see them now,” Lavigne reflected.
