Please help us to get Ian the medical attention he needs

Hi, my name is Kate and I am fundraising for my husband Ian so we can get him the medical attention that he needs.

I am writing to share my husband Ian's medical journey and the profound impact it has had on our family over the past few months. Our hearts are heavy with the pain and uncertainty that have become a constant presence in our lives. We hope that by sharing our story, we can convey the depth of our struggle and the urgent need for support and assistance.

Ian, a vibrant 35-year-old, has always been an active outdoorsman and dedicated to his physically demanding job at a mine. However, for the past 4.5 years, he has endured severe lower back, hip, and leg pain on the left side that has progressively worsened. This once energetic man has not been able to sit at the dining table for meals with us or play on the floor with our children, Ellie and Owen in 4 years.

Three years ago, Ian had an MRI of his spine. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he never met the orthopedic surgeon in person. The surgeon reviewed the MRI results remotely and concluded over the phone that Ian was not a candidate for surgery, recommending weight loss and yoga instead. Unfortunately, these well-intentioned suggestions were insufficient for his severe condition. The surgeon only looked at his spine and never saw the physical ailments Ian was experiencing.

Despite numerous calls and pleas for a follow-up appointment over the past 3 years, the surgeon would not see Ian, not witnessing the clinical side of his suffering. His pain and loss of motor function worsened until, on February 15th of this year, he heard a snap, felt it in his pelvis, and then lost complete feeling in his left leg, rendering him unable to walk. He was admitted to the hospital for two weeks, undergoing numerous scans and blood tests, but no conclusive results were found. His pain was uncontrollable, and he could neither walk nor stand.

The day Ian was being discharged from the hospital without any real answers or direction as to what was happening next, his pain was still not under control and he was unable to walk. I requested a reassessment from the Physiotherapist of Ian's condition, as it had deteriorated significantly. Instead of receiving compassionate care, the floor manager rudely told us we were going to have to leave or face a hefty charge, with the threat of being removed by security if we did not pay and that Physio does not make the final call about who stays and who goes. The neurosurgeon was able to have the pain specialist come and see Ian for an injection. With Ian explaining exactly where his pain was starting from, a local anesthetic injection was given directly into his left SI joint. Immediately, Ian felt a pop, and the pain subsided to almost nothing. His motor function in his toes and foot had also returned. He was able to walk out of the hospital with a walker. However, 48 hours later, all of his pain and lack of motor function returned.

For almost four months now, Ian has been confined to bed, growing weaker by the day as his muscles deteriorate. We have tried to get a referral to an out-of-town specialist, but no one is accepting new patients, or they do not perform the SI Joint Fusion surgery that is believed that he needs. We can't wait months for him to be seen. The medications he is on are hard on his system and not meant for long-term use. His pain is unbearable, and his overall condition is deteriorating with each passing day he is confined to bed.

The pain specialist has continued to see Ian and has tried other procedures such as nerve freezing and RF ablation of the nerves, which only provided 12-24 hours of relief. While we appreciate these trial procedures, they do not address the root of the problem. Ian urgently requires access to medical care that can provide him with relief and a chance at recovery. Unfortunately, Thunder Bay lacks the necessary resources for a specific diagnosis and solution. Ian requires a referral to a facility where he can receive a thorough assessment. Once a facility is found that can take him, transporting Ian in a reclined position is essential, adding to the complexity of finding suitable care. We have been exploring options outside of Canada, and the surgery most believed to be necessary is estimated to cost over $100,000. The financial burden of traveling outside of Canada for medical care, combined with the lost time at work, is overwhelming.

Compounding these issues, other health concerns have emerged because Ian is unable to move or get up. His heart and lungs are not needing to work as hard due to his lack of movement, leading to further complications. Recently, we have had a few trips to the ER because the color of his left leg, swelling, and increased pain in that area raised concerns about blood clots forming.

Watching someone you love endure excruciating pain day after day, with no end in sight, is heartbreaking. Ellie and Owen constantly ask when their daddy will feel better or be able to tuck them in at night. I have had to take a leave from work because the situation has become overwhelming. I am trying to care for Ian, work, manage daily tasks, and look after our children, but it feels like an impossible burden with no resolution in sight.

Even after the surgery, it will take months of intensive rehabilitation before he can resume his normal everyday life. Our family cannot continue to endure this pain and uncertainty alone. We need help, guidance, and a clear path forward.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. We hope that by sharing our journey, we can find the support and understanding that we so desperately need.

With gratitude,

Kate, Ian, Ellie, and Owen