My sister, Sarah McMillan, has dedicated her career to helping others, but right now she needs your support!

Sarah was diagnosed with Marfan Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder, as a child. She has experienced many complex medical issues throughout her life including two major heart surgeries, vision impairments, and spinal surgery. She has always risen to the challenge and dealt with anything that comes her way with grace, patience, and strength. She dedicated her career to working in health care as a Registered Social Worker, and in 2020, she even started her own practice focused on helping clients with chronic health issues.

In Summer 2025, Sarah began experiencing agonizing pain in her side. After multiple trips to the emergency room, she was told she has giant presacral meningocele, which are large masses filled with spinal fluid, in the spinal canal. These masses are located in the pelvic and abdominal area, and in addition to the severe pain, they are also causing worsening vision, impaired balance, and are compressing her internal organs including blocking her ureter which was killing her kidney. She had an urgent procedure to insert a stent in order to save her kidney, but this is only a temporary measure. If left untreated, these masses will likely cause kidney failure, total loss of vision, and lifelong impairment. Sarah still experiences pain every day, and as the masses grow and shift they will continue to damage many of her abdominal organs.

She has spent hours in the emergency room and has seen multiple specialists in Toronto, including her expert neurologist Dr. Danny Monsour, and consultations with expert interventional neuroradiologist Dr. Kieran Murphy. They both advised that surgery was the only option, but told her that there is no doctor in Canada who can preform the operation. Given Sarah’s complex medical history and the urgency of her case, they agreed that world-renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Wouter Schievink, located at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, is the only doctor in the world with the expertise required.

Through the work and advice of Dr. Monsour and Dr. Murphy, an urgent application for OHIP Out-of-Country Services was submitted on Sarah’s behalf in the Fall of 2025, and she was connected with Dr. Schievink and surgical expert Dr. Miguel Burch. The application has finally been approved, and we are so grateful that she has been scheduled for surgery at Cedars-Sinai in California on April 21, 2026.

Unfortunately, the OHIP program does not cover the virtual pre-surgery consults with her surgeons, travel, flights, accommodations, meals, and any other unexpected expenses that may occur. Sarah has done everything she can to continue seeing her clients, but due to her symptoms she has only been able to work in a very limited capacity. The financial burden has added more stress to an already difficult situation.

I am asking for help so Sarah can get the urgent care she needs without experiencing severe financial burden so she can recover peacefully. She so desperately wants to get back to her practice and help others in need.

Our family is beyond grateful for any financial support you can provide. Please keep Sarah in your thoughts as she navigates this difficult journey.

If you have any advice or experience with the OHIP Out-Of-Country Program, or tips for navigating the Los Angeles/Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre area please contact me!

Thank you for your consideration!