Sober and Fighting for His Life

Victor (Harold) Bains Marshall is a recovered drug addict who has been clean and sober since Nov 24, 2002 as a result of his involvement in 12 step programs.  As a consequence of his past drug use, Victor acquired Hepatitis C and is currently in stage 4 of this disease.  Due to his weakened immune system, in 2013 he was diagnosed with osteomyelitis in his spine and a heart infection (endocarditis) which required him to be hospitalized for seven weeks.

 

Victor came to Canada in 1976. Because of his lifestyle, he did not apply to be a permanent resident in Canada and has lived as an illegal immigrant for decades.  Finally in 2015, Victor summoned the courage to apply for permanent resident status and is now in the queue awaiting a decision.  Until he is granted status, Victor has limited healthcare coverage.  Since 2009, he has been fortunate to have been supported by the wonderful people at Sherbourne Health Centre with basic medical care, but they are unable to provide him with the more expensive care that he now requires, such as an endoscopy, various other imaging, pharmaceutical drugs that now are available to cure or abate the progression of Hepatitis C, or future hospital procedures or admissions.

 

Maintaining our health is costly. Applying for immigration is costly. Victor needs help with legal fees, medications and incidentals for his immigration process. Recently, Victor needed to have someone swear an affidavit, saying he was in fact who he said he was as he has no government identification documentation.  He also required a government medical examination which cost $300.00.  As Victor's Hepatitis C progresses, he has become quite ill and is often unable to support his basic needs to live, let alone any extra costs, and this has become extremely stressful for him. 

 

Victor is a vibrant, loving human being.  He has been a major contributor to the cultural scene in Toronto through his radio/internet show Middle Passage which aired originally on Ryerson University’s station CKLN and is now on radioregent.com .Victor freely shares what he has experienced and how he overcame his own addiction with anyone he feels he can help. In this regard, his annual Black Addicts in Recovery radio/internet show, which this year will be his 24th, has been an extraordinary testament to his commitment to reach out and share a message of hope to a larger audience. 

 

Victor has friends that love and appreciate him, but none of us are rich.  Please help if you can.