The Journey So Far

Our lives changed in December when Lydia began suffering from a series of unexplained seizures. It took weeks of terrifying uncertainty and hospital stays just to get them under control—and even then, doctors couldn’t identify the cause. After further testing and weeks in the hospital, we finally have an answer.

Lydia has been diagnosed with a 26 cm tumor that has completely overtaken her right kidney.

The Current Crisis: A Fight for Vital Functions

The tumor is not just localized to her kidney; it is physically obstructing her Inferior Vena Cava (IVC), the largest vein in the body. The tumor is essentially acting like a dam, blocking blood flow from her lower body back to her heart.

This has led to several critical complications that the medical team is fighting to manage:

Severe Edema: Because the blood is physically blocked, fluid is being forced into her legs, causing extreme and painful swelling.

Kidney Strain: The pressure is backing up into her renal veins, causing her kidney function (Creatinine) to hit dangerous levels.

Blood Transfusions: Her body is under immense physical tax; she has already required four blood transfusions to stabilize her levels.

A Critical Financial Reality

Many have asked about her Canadian healthcare coverage. While Lydia is Canadian, she has been living in Panama. Her medical team has been very clear: she has been too unstable to survive a flight back to Canada since this began. Because she is receiving life-saving treatment outside of the country, she will not be reimbursed for these mounting bills. She is relying on the private medical system in Panama to stay alive, meaning every test, every day in the hospital, and every round of chemotherapy must be paid for out-of-pocket.

The Road Ahead

The plan is to begin chemotherapy immediately to shrink the tumor and relieve the pressure on her vital veins, followed by a major surgery to remove the mass.

Lydia is a fighter. Despite the pain and the weeks spent in a hospital bed, she is looking forward to getting healthy, getting out of the hospital, and getting back to her life.

How You Can Help

We are asking for your support to help cover:

Accumulated hospital bills from her ongoing stay.

Life-saving chemotherapy and specialized oncology care.

Surgical costs for the tumor removal.

Recovery expenses while Stacey is only able to work part time while helping Lydia get through this period, translating for doctors, bringing necessary personal care items, providing moral support, driving her to appointments when not in hospital, etc.

Every donation, no matter the size, allows Lydia to focus 100% of her energy on healing. If you aren't able to donate, please consider sharing this page with your network.

Thank you for your prayers, your kind words, and your generosity during the most difficult fight of her life.