Paralyzed Montreal firefighter to finally undergo eye surgery after accessibility gaps – CTV
August 06, 2025
A Montreal man living with disabilities after suffering a stroke three years ago has just found out that he will be able to undergo surgery for cataracts.
Following a story by CTV News about Michael Lavigne’s plight, a transport company in the eastern Ottawa area, Salutem, reached out to offer to take him to a clinic for testing in September.
This comes after Lavigne, a former Montreal firefighter, was told that there wasn’t a clinic that could accommodate his bulky medical equipment, preventing him from getting preliminary testing ahead of surgery.
He had originally been scheduled for cataract surgery before his stroke, but now bedridden, Lavigne requires a lift to sit up and a special ambulance to leave the house.
Though his brain functions normally, his speech is limited, and he struggles to articulate his thoughts.
