Paralyzed Montreal firefighter finally undergoes cataract surgery after years of delays

For years, Michael Lavigne watched his vision slowly fade as cataracts clouded his eyesight, but on Dec. 15, the former firefighter finally regained his sight after a successful surgery.

“It was great,” said Lavigne.

• READ MORE: Paralyzed Montreal firefighter unable to get eye surgery due to accessibility gaps

He was originally scheduled to undergo the procedure in November 2022, but in July of that year, his life took an unexpected turn when he suffered a stroke at age 51.

The medical emergency left him mostly paralyzed.

While his cognitive abilities remain fully intact, the stroke significantly limited his speech and mobility.

CTV News first shared Lavigne’s story in July, highlighting the fact that transportation had become one of the biggest barriers to his care.

After the story aired, Salutem, a private transportation company in Ontario, stepped in to help.

• READ MORE: Paralyzed Montreal firefighter to finally undergo eye surgery after accessibility gaps

The company provided Lavigne with his first ride to the clinic free of charge, while additional trips were paid for by anonymous donors.

Lavigne’s sister, Tammy, who returned to Canada from the United States to take care of her brother full-time, says the surgery was about more than simply improving her brother’s vision.

“It’s [about] the quality of life,” she said.

Tammy adds that the support the family has received has been overwhelming.

“A huge thank you to [CTV News] viewers, to the people who reached out and helped,” she said.

Still, Lavigne’s health journey is far from over.

Before his stroke, he was in the process of getting his teeth fixed at McGill University’s dental clinic.

His mother, Connie Auger, says now that his cataracts have been taken care of, she hopes that his dental treatment can soon resume.

• READ MORE: Paralyzed Montreal man to get long-awaited cataract surgery amid calls for better disability support

“There’s a lot of food that he just misses out on because there’s no teeth to be able to chew,” said Auger.

For now, Lavigne says he is focusing on what he has regained: the simple joy of seeing the world once again.