Caitlyn Broderick

Hey everyone,

As most of you know, our amazing friend Caitlyn ran into some unexpected health concerns while in Calgary, Alberta for work. Though, unexpected at the time, it’s no secret to some that Caitlyn has been quite “unexplainably” sick over the past year and a half.

When people say everything happens for a reason, her story is a true testament of just that.

Caitlyn left home for Ottawa on September 30th for business. After just two days in Ottawa, she was asked to transfer to Alberta and head the Calgary office. She agreed and left immediately. On her flight from Ottawa to Calgary, Caitlyn’s glasses broke in their case! She worked the remainder of the week without them, and, chalked the atrocious headache she had since landing up to reviewing 1000’s of documents without them.

With her headache and eye pain becoming somewhat unbearable, she figured she wouldn’t handle another work week without them, so she headed to an optometry clinic she found open on Sunday, October 6th to see if her glasses could be repaired. “Unfortunately”, they were broken beyond repair. She asked if she could have an eye test and just get new glasses, feeling somewhat desperate at this point. The pre-tests were performed and Caitlyn was called in immediately, ahead of the scheduled patients. This was because these tests showed what appeared to be severe swelling of her optic nerve, presenting as stage 2 Papilledema. She was referred to an ophthalmologist for confirmation.

On Friday, October 11th, Caitlyn saw an Ophthalmologist and underwent hours of multiple tests, and it was determined that she does in fact have Stage 2 Papilledema, and that the swelling has punctured all 10 layers of her Retina. Furthermore, the tests revealed what appeared to be brain fluid leaking into her optic nerve. Thus, Caitlyn was referred for an emergency MRI, and to a Retina Surgeon.

Caitlyn was advised at this time not to fly, until further tests determined it was safe to do so.

On Thursday, October 17th Caitlyn had her MRI, which yielded a stat report. On Monday, October 21st, she received the results which advised an urgent referral to Neurology was necessary, as it was determined that the swelling in her optic nerve was due to prominent fluid on her brain, causing tortous dilated bilateral optic nerve sheath complexes, and that her lateral ventricles are in a “slit-like” state. Furthermore, it has been determined that the pressure in Caitlyn’s brain from the fluid caused an intracerebral hemorrhage. Thus, on Wednesday, October 23rd, Caitlyn received a call advising her to present immediately to the emergency room, with an urgent referral accompanying her. Here, she received the very best care and underwent multiple tests, scans, procedures and surgeries, saving her life.

Caitlyn has been diagnosed with Hydrocephalus, which is a life long condition with no cure, though, the prognosis is usually good for people who can get appropriate and adequate care. Although they were able to drain quite a bit of the fluid, it is anticipated this will have to be done quite often for the foreseeable future, and there is no doubt Caitlyn had a very long, exhausting and difficult road to recovery ahead of her. The side effects of the treatment for Hydrocephalus has completely taken Caitlyn out of commission, she has been unable to leave her bed for the better part of the last week but she is fighting it like a champ.

Caitlyn’s best chance at survival and/or not going permanently blind is aggressive treatment and adequate care, and unfortunately the wait lists in Newfoundland for the necessary specialists far exceed the time she has to wait. Thus, she will continue travelling back and forth to Alberta to receieve the care she needs, until she can receieve it here.

Caitlyn has to head back to Alberta next week for a follow up with her team there, as well as to see a surgeon; and, we know now that she will have to go back at least 4 more times between now and April, that’s providing nothing else transpires. As you can appreciate, she cannot travel alone, or stay alone, and she also needs her Mother to stay in NL to help with her two small kids.

Caitlyn is the backbone of her family business, and in her absence, her family need to either hire help to replace her or double the load on that front, while helping take care of her small children.

With everything said above, comes great financial stress on the entire Broderick family, a stress we’re hoping to ease as best we can, despite Caitlyn’s apprehension surrounding accepting help.

As you all know, Broderick's is a family business and it is exactly that. One big family that welcomes everyone as their own. They are always doing what they can to help anyone and everyone in need. Caitlyn has spearheaded, hosted and participated in many fundraisers aiding members of our community, she feeds the less fortunate at Christmas, provides professional services to friends and family and won’t hear tell of compensation, and she takes care of everyone. As does Annie & D’Arcy and the entire Broderick family. Right now, they’re the ones who need a bit of help, whether too proud to admit it or not, to make sure we get Caitlyn better and keep her better. I’m a true believer of what goes around, comes around, and if that’s any indication to the help the Broderick’s will receive during this time of need, I think all will be well.

All funds raised will go directly to Caitlyn, aiding her medical expenses and financial needs associated with travel, bills, and her children during this time. There’s no doubt MCP will cover some of this, but they won’t cover it all, and they won’t cover it up front. On behalf of myself, and all of Caitlyn’s wonderful friends, we thank you in advance for the opportunity to help her and her family on this difficult road to recovery.

“People who need help sometimes look a lot like people who don’t need help” - Glennon Doyle

“Real beauty can be found in the person who gives to you without hesitation what they needed more for themselves”