About George Keulen
George Keulen was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) at birth. Living an uncharacteristically healthy childhood and youth, in his early 20’s CF began to take over his life. At age 26, his lung function had dropped to 27%, and he found himself in need of a double-lung transplant. After being tested head to toe, he was waitlisted for this precious gift of life in November 2008, only to wait over a year and a half for this second chance at life.
Every breath that George takes today is a testament to the selfless gift he received from his organ donor.
Since his transplant, George has been an advocate for Cystic Fibrosis, Organ Donation, and Person-Centered-Care. He has had the opportunity to speak publicly about his healthcare experiences, including university classrooms, fundraisers, nursing education seminars, and international healthcare conferences. He also helped found and chaired the St. Paul’s Patient Advocacy Committee.
Post-transplant, George also received a Master’s degree and has biked across British Columbia twice as part of a CF Fundraiser. However, George’s most significant role has been to serve as a caregiver for his wife, Kim, during her five-year journey with cancer.
Most recently, George has authored the book Big Breath In, a memoir about his experience of growing up with CF and his wait for transplant.
Follow me @georgekeulen on Twitter and Instagram, connect with me on LinkedIn, or connect with me directly for questions or speaking enquiries on my Contact page.
