In 1980, Diane Hébert gave birth to a healthy beautiful little girl. After childbirth, Diane became weaker and weaker. So weak that in 1983, her doctor orders her to completely stop working.

They discover that Diane is suffering from primary pulmonary hypertension caused by a pulmonary embolism not detected during the birth of her child. The verdict is direct: to live, she needs a heart-lung transplant.

There is only one choice for Diane. She has to go to California, because at that time the Canadian hospitals were not able to perform such a complicated operation. Diane has the good fortune to have the moral and financial support of many people who wish to help her to go through this hardship. After two years of unsuccessfully waiting for a suitable donor, she receives a letter telling her of the possibility of having the needed surgery in Toronto. She returns to Canada but her health continues to deteriorate.

On November 26th, 1985 a suitable donor is finally found. It is the big day. The experimental transplantation will be made in-extremis at the Toronto General Hospital. The surgery takes six and one-half hours. Diane Hébert becomes the first Quebecer to benefit from a heart-lung transplant.

The post-operative complications are multiple. Diane Hébert is unconscious for one month. During this time, she will have three heart attacks, and the surgeons will operate four more times. When she wakes up, Diane Hébert almost sees nothing, almost hears nothing, doesn't speak any more and her legs are paralyzed. But she is alive!

In 1986, thanks to her determination and to  specialized treatments, little by little she regains her eyesight, hearing, speech and the use of her legs. Diane Hébert decides to go back to Montreal. She swears to dedicate herself to providing more information on organ donations and to find a definitive way to morally and financially support people waiting for a transplant. The experience she underwent will mark her for the rest of her life.

Diane starts to write the book "Second Chance" to share her experience with everyone. This is her way to thank all those who helped, encouraged and followed her in the Quebec media. Her wish to educate the public will bring about the creation of "La Fondation Diane Hébert" in 1987, a unique organization created to directly help the patients waiting for a transplant and to make the public more aware about organ donations.

On November 26, 2004 Diane Hébert celebrated the nineteenth anniversary of her transplantation surgery. For her, it represents nineteen years of life that she might never have known and the chance to see her daughter growing up.  It has been nineteen years of miracles! Diane holds both the Quebec and Canadian record of longevity for a heart-and-lung transplant.

Save a life, recycle yourself. 
Be an organ donor !