Help Orthniel return Edline home
Donation protected
Edline Jean-Baptiste-Volny begun her battle with breast cancer in 2016. She was diagnosed with metastatic disease to the brain in June 2018. She passed away suddenly in her home on September 23, 2018. Her husband, Orthniel was her primary and sole care provider during her journey. He had to quit working in March 2018 as supporting Edline, taking her to doctor appointments, helping her with medications, etc. had become a full-time job. To make matters worse, Edline did not speak English, and Orthniel was burdened with trying to explain her suffering to her doctors. The language barrier resulted in a lot of Edline's pain and shortness of breath not being addressed appropriately.
Orthniel is attempting to raise funds as he has no family in Alberta and would like to bring Edline's body home to be close to her family in Haiti. The costs of this alone will exceed $18,000, plus the cost of Orthniel flying back to Haiti, along with additional funeral costs. Currently Edline is at a funeral home in Edmonton, but the cost to keep her there while arrangements are being made is adding up very quickly. Orthniel is hoping to be back in Haiti by mid October.
Despite numerous foundations and charities established for Breast Cancer, the support available directly to patients and their families is limited. It is non-existent for funeral arrangements. Orthniel is alone, unsupported, and can't spend any prolonged time in his home, where Edline passed. He is in tears and struggling to care for himself at this time. We are hoping to remove some of the burden by relieving him of his financial stress. Orthniel is currently putting all his expenses on his credit card with no way of paying off the debt. Hence, funds raised will go directly into Orthniel’s account to cover the expenses to bring Edline home.
This GoFundMe was established on Orthniel’s behalf by a team of Edline’s healthcare professionals. This includes Holly Sykora, an RN with an interest in helping families navigating the dying process, as well Dr. Dinesh Witharana, Edline’s primary physician and Dr. Zhimeng Jia, a palliative care resident.
Orthniel is attempting to raise funds as he has no family in Alberta and would like to bring Edline's body home to be close to her family in Haiti. The costs of this alone will exceed $18,000, plus the cost of Orthniel flying back to Haiti, along with additional funeral costs. Currently Edline is at a funeral home in Edmonton, but the cost to keep her there while arrangements are being made is adding up very quickly. Orthniel is hoping to be back in Haiti by mid October.
Despite numerous foundations and charities established for Breast Cancer, the support available directly to patients and their families is limited. It is non-existent for funeral arrangements. Orthniel is alone, unsupported, and can't spend any prolonged time in his home, where Edline passed. He is in tears and struggling to care for himself at this time. We are hoping to remove some of the burden by relieving him of his financial stress. Orthniel is currently putting all his expenses on his credit card with no way of paying off the debt. Hence, funds raised will go directly into Orthniel’s account to cover the expenses to bring Edline home.
This GoFundMe was established on Orthniel’s behalf by a team of Edline’s healthcare professionals. This includes Holly Sykora, an RN with an interest in helping families navigating the dying process, as well Dr. Dinesh Witharana, Edline’s primary physician and Dr. Zhimeng Jia, a palliative care resident.
Organizer and beneficiary
Holly Sykora
Organizer
Edmonton, AB
Othniel Jean Baptiste
Beneficiary
