After almost four years of waiting, the long-awaited call sounded on Alexandre Martinet’s phone on March 19. A kidney was available for the 29-year-old father. The Madelinot of Havre-Aubert was then invited to go as quickly as possible to the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec.
We’ve been waiting all this time for a matching kidney from a deceased donor. In these cases, time is against us because the quality of the organ […] gradually deteriorates. If we don’t have the possibility to surrender, they will move on to the next one on the list that would be compatible, so as not to lose the organ.
explains Alexandre Martinet.
After almost four years of waiting, the long-awaited call sounded on Alexandre Martinet’s phone on March 19. A kidney was available for the 29-year-old father.
Photo: Courtesy of Alexandre Martinet
Mr. Martinet has booked the next morning’s flight. But when I arrived at the airport, I received a call from the airline saying that the flight was going to be postponed due to weather conditions.
, he says. The Madelinot was called to the boarding gate a little late, to see the flight postponed again because of the weather.
A few hours later, same scenario, but the discourse changes. This time, Pascan told travelers that his aircraft was no longer able to leave the tarmac since the maximum number of flight hours before mandatory periodic maintenance had been reached.
” It created a lot of stress for me after all that time waiting. To see the possibility that we lose this opportunity [la greffe d’un rein]it was… hardly understandable. »
It was finally aboard the government ambulance plane that Alexandre Martinet left the archipelago the next day. He arrived in extremis at the hospital for his kidney transplant.
According to him, the lack of reliability of the air carrier is problematic.
Alexandre Martinet was finally able to benefit from a kidney transplant, boarding the government ambulance plane.
Photo: Courtesy of Alexandre Martinet
It is not expected that it is because the plane is not allowed to fly or there is no pilot
, is surprised the Madelinot. Given the fact that the Pascan company has the mandate to provide flights for hospital patients, he considers that alternative solutions must be considered.
the CISSS is solution mode
with Pascal
Sophie Doucet, President and CEO of the Integrated Health and Social Services Center (CISSS) des Îles, recognizes that the situation is worrying for patients. We have heard a lot of dissatisfaction in recent months with regard to air transport in the Magdalen Islands
she notes.
The CISSS recently met with the leaders of Pascan to put itself “in solution mode”. (archives).
Photo: Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose
the CISSS recognizes that this is a problem for patients who have to travel to Quebec for appointments, but also for doctors and resources who come to work on the Islands. Recently, an ophthalmologist who practices part-time in the Magdalen Islands mentioned the idea of no longer going to see her Magdalen patients, exasperated by Pascan’s flight postponements.
the CISSS met twice with Pascan leaders since January. We had a good meeting with them three weeks ago, they told us about the different issues that air transport is experiencing
explains Sophie Doucet.
” I felt that they were in solution mode, there are certain possible solutions that are being put in place and that we should see the effects, I dare to believe, in the coming weeks. »
In recent months, the air carrier has indicated that a delay in the renewal of its aircraft fleet and the supply of certain mechanical parts has reduced its operational capacity.
The company must also deal with the lack of pilots.
Travelers are getting used to delays and even cancellations. Jean-Marie Leblanc travels every month to work in the Magdalen Islands and he always plans his arrival two days in advance.
Jean-Martin Leblanc now takes two days in advance to understand the airline’s delay.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Isabelle Larose
It’s not all the time because of the weather, but a mechanical breakdown, poor fuel planning. At one point, we arrived in Gaspé and there wasn’t enough gas in the truck to fuel the plane. We had to wait a few hours for the truck go back to get fuel
he says.
For his part, Alexandre Martinet hopes that the situation will improve. Even if the kidney transplant worked, the Madelinot has not finished with medical follow-ups throughout his life.
Pascan’s management was unavailable to answer our questions at the time of this writing.
According to the report by Isabelle The Rose
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca