Help for Shawna McRitchie

Hi, my name is Elizabeth, and I'm here with Danielle, asking for help for one of our best friends as she tries to find answers about her health issues that have left her immobilized, unable to work, and at risk of losing everything, including her home.

She has been off work since May of 2021; at this time she is unable to walk without the assistance of a cane or walker. She has chronic pain that she battles with daily. On top of pain, she deals with extreme weakness loss of muscle mass and made her activities of daily living almost impossible. She has been diagnosed with spinal scoliosis, compressed spinal cord, prolapsed discs, stenosis, and is full of arthritis in her back and lower joints.

Every day she deals with extreme pain in her legs and back due to the spinal disability. She stays home as the pain from getting ready and in and out of a vehicle is excruciating.

She was on disability until August 2021, when they terminated her assistance. She did appeal, but they denied her request and closed her case as of October. In November, she lost her job as she was unable to work. She has been applying for funding, but the timelines are very long, and the waitlists are worse.

She has undergone multiple medical procedures, including numerous X-rays, CT scans, and physiotherapy assessments. Has been to a specialist and recently had a MIR; she is awaiting the results at this time. She is also waiting to hear back from a Neurosurgeon to see if she will need surgery.

We are reaching out to the community for help for my amazing friend who has helped numerous people with her work through Sunset Water Sports and community events. Any support she can get during these difficult times while she awaits some answers would be greatly appreciated and help her. She is one of the most amazing, giving and caring people you will ever meet. We are lucky enough to call her one of our best friends.