After a long battle with the Ministry of Health denying all my sister's specialists requests of her transplant surgery to be done at an experienced centre in the USA, a transplant surgeon is flying in from Edmonton and will be working with a transplant surgeon in London who has now agreed to attempt Canada’s first-ever robotic kidney autotransplant in an effort to save her kidney.

On March 4, 2026, my sister Margaret (MJ), a young adult, will undergo a groundbreaking procedure in London, Ontario. This complex, full-day surgery will be performed by a transplant team in London alongside a transplant surgeon flying in from Edmonton to treat severe left renal vein compression, known as Nutcracker Syndrome. In this condition, the vein responsible for draining blood from the left kidney becomes compressed between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), leading to impaired blood flow, increased venous pressure and compromised kidney function. This also causes an increase in blood pressure (144/108) and heart rate (up to 210bpm).

During the procedure, the transplant team will remove MJ’s left kidney, preserve it in a cold solution, and transplant it into her right pelvis. New vascular connections will be created to restore proper blood flow, while minimizing the need for a large open incision through a robotic approach. A temporary ureteral stent will also be placed to ensure proper drainage during healing.

MJ’s expected recovery time is approximately two to three months, with additional less invasive procedures anticipated afterwards. Her transplant team has advised that she will be unable to lift even five pounds for several months due to the risk of serious complications. As a result, she will be unable to work, unable to live alone, and require ongoing assistance during her recovery.

MJ has a long road ahead so we are raising funds to support MJ through this life-altering surgery and the long recovery ahead. This will help cover medical expenses, nutritional supplements, medications, multiple trips to London that need to be made for the follow-up procedures and appointments, hotel stays, post-operative care, rehabilitation, and the assistance she will require for the months afterward since she will not be able to take care of herself.

MJ is living with a rare and extraordinarily complex combination of four vascular compression disorders, which her team has unheard of all at once: Nutcracker Syndrome, a failed Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS) surgery in 2023, Pelvic Congestion Syndrome, and May–Thurner Syndrome. These conditions have caused devastating effects on her health and quality of life, including over 30 pounds of unintentional weight loss and a critically low BMI.

Her condition is further complicated by daily large amounts of gross hematuria (blood in her urine), proteinuria from ongoing kidney stress, severe abdominal and pelvic pain, reactive thrombocytosis (high platelets), electrolyte disturbances, nausea, vomiting, high blood pressure (144/108), and episodes of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) with heart rates reaching up to 210 bpm requiring pharmacologic conversion. She also lives with Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID), placing her at increased risk for serious infections. Together, all of these complications require multiple hospital visits and procedures.

Delaying surgery puts MJ at a catastrophic event including the risk of permanent kidney damage, worsening cardiovascular instability, and long-term disability. She lives with daily pain, dizziness, fatigue, frequent emergency visits, and declining kidney function making it increasingly difficult to work, eat, and maintain basic daily activities.

Why We’re Asking for Help

The financial burden of being severely ill and unable to work, followed by a long recovery period after surgery and the need for additional procedures, has created significant financial strain. As advised by the transplant team, she will be unable to work for 2–3 months. MJ will require ongoing medical care, expensive medication, will have to travel to appointments, and living expenses will accumulate, making it difficult to cover costs both before and after surgery. Any contribution, no matter how small, directly supports my medical care and recovery. If donating isn’t possible, sharing MJ’s story and helping raise awareness is equally meaningful.

Nutcracker Syndrome is an extremely rare, misdiagnosed and often misunderstood condition, and many patients suffer for years without diagnosis or appropriate treatment. By supporting MJ, you are also helping bring visibility to rare vascular conditions and the urgent need for timely, specialized care.

Thank you for holding MJ and all those living with rare and complex illnesses in your hearts. Your kindness, generosity, and support mean more than words can express as she faces one of the most challenging battles of her life.