An Ottawa native is taking her online campaign for organ donor awareness to Canada's biggest tweeter.
Hélène Campbell of Barrhaven has been awaiting a double-lung transplant since the fall, needing to be tied to dozens of feet of oxygen tubes 24 hours a day.
"I can't do the stuff I used to do," said the 20-year-old. "Cleaning my room. I can't clean anymore. It's every kid's dream to not clean their room but you miss it when it's gone."
She and a friend spearheaded the #BeAnOrganDonor Twitter and YouTube campaign Thursday to get more registered donors, aiming to get Justin Bieber and his 16.5 million followers to send out a tweet of his own with that message.
With new tweets pouring in from thousands of supporters, Campbell said the reaction was awesome.
"You can dream right? You have that dream and you'd like it, but this is just . . . wow," she said. "Seeing it come together and happening and people are just . . . it's awesome."
So far her campaign has garnered the attention of Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Toronto Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia and even Justin Bieber's guitarist . . . but no Bieber so far.
In the meantime, Campbell and her mother headed for Toronto Thursday to wait for a transplant and said they can feel the support.
"It takes away all of those emotions you have about parting," said Manon Roy-Campbell. "It gives us a lot of hope."
"It's negative that I'm sick but I'm trying to take the negative side and put a positive outlook on it," Hélène said. "(I'm) trying to work it for the best to raise awareness around the world."
With a report from CTV Ottawa's John Hua
