After years of delays, paralyzed Montreal firefighter regains his sight

Montreal firefighter Michael Lavigne is seeing clearly again after finally undergoing cataract surgery, years after it was first scheduled. Lavinge regained his sight on Dec. 15 allowing him to see familiar faces in time for the holiday season.

“I was not able to see and now I am,” said Lavigne.

Lavinge is cared for by his sister Tammy Lavinge who is with him full-time as well as his mother Connie. Her brother had planned to get cataract surgery in November 2022, but earlier that year in July, he suffered a stroke at the age of 51.

Since then Lavinge has been paralyzed, but has retained his cognitive abilities despite challenges with mobility and speech. 

As his vision continued to deteriorate, access to care became increasingly difficult.

“It’s so amazing, exciting, I’m over the moon happy for him,” said Tammy. “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.”

Now that Michael can see, he needs to have significant dental work, implants are required so that he is able to properly eat certain foods again and to help improve his speech. He had begun dental work at McGill University, but it’s not clear if they can do implants. Regardless, Michael needs to find a specialist that can accommodate him as well as receive financial support for the cost of the implant surgery. 

“So we’re hoping that there’s something, anything, praying that somebody can come forward that can help Mike with that as well,” said Tammy. “Some dentist, something that somebody can help that, not only, because he cannot have dentures, there’s no way it has to be implants.”

In the meantime, the former Montreal firefighter is rediscovering his vision while enjoying more time with loved ones.

“It’s so nice that, that I’m able to see them now,” said Lavinge.