Example aspects of a stent spring for repairing a pipe and a method for retaining a stent in a compressed configuration is disclosed. The stent spring for repairing a pipe can comprise a substantially tubular mesh structure defining a void, the void defining a central axis, the mesh structure comprising one or more strands, the one or more strands defining a plurality of openings, wherein the stent spring is configurable in an expanded stent spring configuration and a compressed stent spring configuration; and a tab extending radially inward from the mesh structure into the void, the tab defining a tab opening.