Please read the update from Jiwan:

Thank you all so much for the incredible love and support over these past few months, it has truly meant the world to us. I wanted to share a quick update.

In July, Kevin and I flew out to Cleveland Clinic for the specialized surgery I needed. The past four months have been challenging, a long recovery filled with ups and downs, learning to walk and use my left leg again, and facing a few complications along the way.

Yesterday, I went to St. Paul’s Hospital for an examination under anesthesia to find out if the surgery was successful. Unfortunately, I received the news that it was only a partial success. I’ll need to undergo a few more surgeries, which are all planned to be done locally. I will also continue to have my temporary ileostomy bag until I’m completely fistula free but I am still very hopeful that I’ll be able to make a full recovery.

Thank you again for all the kind messages, love, and encouragement. They’ve kept me going through some very hard days. I wish I had more positive results to share, but I’m hopeful this journey will be coming to an end soon. I will never forget all the people that were there for us. We love you all so much.

With gratitude,

Jiwan

For the past two years, Jiwan has been quietly battling a debilitating and complex fistula. She has become quite ill and recently had surgery for a temporary ileostomy bag. Due to the sensitive and painful nature of her illness, and the deeply personal toll it has taken, she has chosen to remain mostly silent about her pain. This has taken a toll on her mentally, physically and financially. Jiwan is a mother to two children, a wife to a loving husband and has worked hard in her career as a teacher. She has always given 100% in all of her roles in life. Currently she is often unable to leave her home which has resulted in her being unable to work and missing out on aspects of her children’s lives.

After countless doctor visits, misdiagnoses, infections, complications and heartbreaking dead ends she learned this fistula is a result of medical malpractice. This is something she is discussing with a lawyer, however these cases are often dismissed in Canada. Her main concern right now is to get her health back and return to living a normal, healthy life.

Jiwan has endured 26 visits to the emergency room and has been passed around to 5 different hospitals. Recently she finally began to see positive results and reassurance with a surgeon at St. Paul’s Hospital. Unfortunately this was followed by two failed surgeries in an attempt to repair her complex fistula. She has now undergone a third surgery for a temporary ileostomy bag because her body could no longer function properly. On the advice of her surgeon at St. Paul’s Hospital, Jiwan needs specialized surgery by a highly specialized colorectal surgeon at Cleveland Clinic in Weston, Florida. This surgeon, and the facility, is one of the only options in North America that has the expertise to properly treat the type of fistula Jiwan has. This is truly her only option for a chance to heal.

She will have to leave her children and her home for many weeks to travel to Weston Florida to have surgery and recover before coming back home. This journey will cost almost 100K.

We are asking for your support to assist Jiwan with this enormous financial burden. All money raised will help cover the cost of:

• Medical consultations and surgery at the Cleveland Clinic

• Travel and accommodations

• Follow-up care and medications

This is not an easy ask. Jiwan is strong, resilient, and has carried this quietly for far too long. She deserves a chance at a full and healthy life, free from pain, and full of possibility. She wants to be the best, healthy, hands-on, involved mom and partner that she is, and she wants to return to her teaching career that she is so passionate about.

If you are able to contribute, no matter the amount, it will mean the world to Jiwan. If you cannot donate, please share this page and help spread the word.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for supporting Jiwan as she continues to battle this health nightmare.