Every breath MEGAN ELLAHI takes is a testament to her resilience.
Living with pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive condition that gradually replaces healthy lung tissue with scar tissue, Ellahi endures daily chronic coughing and diminished lung capacity. Despite completing all the necessary medical testing for a double lung transplant, she faces an uncertain wait.
“It’s frustrating,” she says.
“I have to wait until I’m at my worst to move up the list. While I understand the doctors’ focus on maximizing quality over quantity, it’s hard knowing my body is deteriorating in other ways as I wait.”
Even with these challenges, Ellahi dedicates herself to helping others. Alongside her role as client liaison for Meals on Wheels and as a volunteer with Airdrie Drive Happiness, she recently became a director-at-large for the Airdrie Arts and Culture Council. She also works with the Extreme Weather Action Collective, helping vulnerable and unhoused residents during harsh weather conditions.
“There are days when I don’t want to get out of bed, but knowing others rely on me gives me purpose,” she says.
Ellah was nominated multiple times in 2024 for the Amazing Courage award. Her story of reliance has inspired her nomination again this year.
With her characteristic determination, she is exploring further education through a vocational rehabilitation program, aiming to pursue her passion for non-profit work.