Hello!

My name is Raymond Beaulieu, I am a 57-year old Autobody Repair Person. I’ve been working hard for over 35 years in my trade, most recently working for the Toronto Transit Commission. In 2024, I was diagnosed with Leukemia after going into the Emergency Department with what I thought was Pneumonia. I thought it would be a simple visit, get some antibiotics or a puffer, but I was hospitalized for 3 days and received multiple blood transfusions to get me back to ‘normal’. It has been an incredibly long year in and out of the hospital with dozens of blood transfusions, three rounds of chemotherapy, one round of radiation, and finally, by the grace of God I was able to receive a stem cell transplant in October. My doctors believe that I got this blood cancer from repeated exposure to harmful chemicals in my trade.

I have been off work for over a year now and received financial support from short-term disability through my employer’s benefits, but this has barely been enough to cover my household bills. I have now been told that I have to apply for EI because I have reached the maximum benefits after 6 months. These payments are only a portion of my regular paycheque. I have to wait another 6 months on EI until I can get access to long-term disability, which still would not cover everything.

I am typically not the person to ask for help, I have always figured out a way to make ends meet. Without being able to work, bills have slowly been piling up and this week I received a surprise bill from Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (my treating hospital) for almost $5,000 CAD that I cannot afford to pay at this time.

It is just my wife and I at home, she is unable to work due to a permanent disability, but she is my primary caretaker at this time. My children all live far away, and I’m far too immunocompromised to be around any family or friends. It has been a lonely year. I am slowly on the mend, but every day it’s a gamble on whether or not I will feel good or ill.

I started this gofundme to help support my financial obligations while I focus on rehabilitation until I am fit enough to go back to work. Any donations are appreciated. If you’ve made it to the end of this, thank you for considering my cause.

Ray

(written by a family member on behalf of Ray)