hmm..Discuss.

[thetreble 19]

Sympathy or no?

While this woman is in poor health, which is terrible, and she has to leave her province in order to find a donor. That I sympathize with. However, the province is paying you a monthly stipend and I'm sure (although I wouldn't know 100%) she is receiving some sort of other benefits from the government in regards whether is be disability or something else.

I do feel bad but, is there more you feel we should be doing?

[Carlawarla 1]

Sympathy or no?

While this woman is in poor health, which is terrible, and she has to leave her province in order to find a donor. That I sympathize with. However, the province is paying you a monthly stipend and I'm sure (although I wouldn't know 100%) she is receiving some sort of other benefits from the government in regards whether is be disability or something else.

I do feel bad but, is there more you feel we should be doing?

My girlfriends husband in Saskatchewan required a liver transplant. No matter where the donor came from, the transplant was going to be done in Edmonton. He had to stay in Saskatoon until they had the donor (was about 3 months I believe), then they air lifted him to Edmonton for the procedure. All expenses were covered, but the agreement at that time, and it looks like right now in this case as well, is that the recipient is to remain in their home province until a donor is found.

I can't imagine how she could survive in Ontario, and what I suspect is Toronto? on $1000.00 a month. She should stay in NB until they have a donor and then they'll transport her to Ontario for the transplant. She's just a little anxious I guess. I don't think unless it's medically necessary for her to be close to the hospital right now that she should be given anything to live there.

If I remember correctly as well, my girlfriend and her husband, once he was transported to Edmonton and after the operation, they had to remain near the hospital for six weeks after surgery because of daily trips for blood work etc. to make sure the transplant "took". They were given some monies by the SK government, and the hospital had accommodations near the hospital for that purpose. They were similar to university efficiency apartments and the expenses while not a lot given to them by the SK government covered them for their stay there.

I think the lady in this article needs to go back home and await the time when they need her, then she can stay close by after the operation. As well, perhaps the Lion's Club or something else like that could donate her money as well if her needs can't be met by the province, or as a means of paying for her accommodations first until she gets the rebate from the provincial gov't.

[thetreble 19]

I also found it odd that she had to move to Ontario before they had even found a donor for her. I mean, I'm assuming if they find an organ that can be donated to her, they will call her in N.B. and tell her, and then she can make her way down in a matter of hours on a plane or even a few days by car? I don't know how organs work and how fast they would have to go from person to person to work.

[SapphireDreams 71]

Well, I suppose that it's not easy to be going through that, but the way I read it, I see it that they are only helping her with the $1000, it's not meant to be her sole income but more of an added bonus to however else she affords to live.

I mean, where does she get money from without that extra $1000?

I also don't know why she has to wait for it in Toronto, but I suppose there's a good reason for that.

[thetreble 19]

I mean, where does she get money from without that extra $1000?

That is sort of how I read it...that is why I was figuring that if she is not working because of illness, maybe she gets some sort of benefits to live on? What about a husband? I'm not sure.

[Emancipation 2]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/prince-edward-isl...transplant.html

I don't think it's totally uncommon.. been following the above story for a while now of a PEI baby that had to do the same thing.. in fact I seem to recall they moved before the baby was born because they knew there were complications that only the Children's hospital in TO could deal with.

I think it's a matter of specialization is it not? That to get this kind of treatment, you need the best Dr's and logically they will be in the larger centers.. On PEI it's commonplace to go to H'fax for a specialist.. that's just the way things work. There is Ronald MacDonald house, and other agencies that help with housing patients and their families and back home there are always fund raisers for housing/extra expenses for patients who go to another province for treatment.

Is it right? I'm not sure that it's the right question.. with such a huge country and the funds/ resources we have it seems to be necessity at this point.

[Carlawarla 1]

Upon re-reading the original article there are two funny statements. One is that she at first says they contacted her and told her to come to Toronto. However it then says.

"Patients remain residents of their own provinces, as per the terms of the inter-provincial agreements, so the resources that are available to the patient are really dependent on the resources extended to them by their particular province," Bignard said.

Her home province is N.B., so what's she doing in Toronto then?

The social worker added that the lung transplant program does provide other supports to patients, including medical and psychological services.

Given the above italicized quote from the article, then perhaps there are supports even financially for her through the lung transport progam.

[Krikit 1,164]

Upon re-reading the original article there are two funny statements. One is that she at first says they contacted her and told her to come to Toronto. However it then says.

"Patients remain residents of their own provinces, as per the terms of the inter-provincial agreements, so the resources that are available to the patient are really dependent on the resources extended to them by their particular province," Bignard said.

Her home province is N.B., so what's she doing in Toronto then?

I think they mean it's for the purposes of provincial coverage. In other words, because she is normally a resident of NB, but has to temporarily relocate to ON, she will still be on the books as being covered by NB's healthcare as opposed to waiting out the residency requirement before acquiring the ON coverage. Meaning she wouldn't be left without coverage should she require it.

Edited September 10, 2009 by Krikit