Sheila Annette Lewis, the Alberta woman denied an organ transplant because she would not receive a Covid vaccine, has died.
Lewis sued Alberta Health Services over its decision to remove her from the transplant list. Doctors argued that vaccination against Covid, for which Lewis said she had natural immunity from a prior infection, was required alongside childhood vaccines, which Lewis had received.
A publication ban prevents disclosure of which organ Lewis needed.
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which supported Lewis’ legal challenges, announced her death Thursday.
“Brave Canadian, Sheila Annette Lewis, has sadly passed away today,” the legal charity said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with her family, and all other Canadians who have been denied transplants because of unscientific vaccine policies. We will continue her courageous fight for rights and freedoms.”
Lewis lost her court challenges in Alberta’s lower court and appellate court. The Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the case.
In July, Lewis’ lawyers said she had reached a confidential “satisfactory settlement” with the Alberta government over a subsequent challenge.
The terms have not been disclosed, but the administrators of a crowdfunding campaign for Lewis said she died without having ever received a transplant.
Lewis received a standing ovation in May for her testimony before the National Citizens Inquiry.
“All I wanted to do was be able to breathe,” she said. “And I did everything that the doctors asked me to do. And I didn’t drink, and I didn’t smoke, and I didn’t do drugs. And I took all my vaccinations and I ate healthy. I’ve lost some weight. You know, I did my exercises. I went to the programs. I did everything. All I want to do is live. I want to see my grandbabies raised. But it’s not going to happen now. They just won’t bend.”
After her court defeat, Lewis had planned to seek a transplant in the United States. A crowdfunding campaign to support her raised US$124,776.
