Helping Ladan: Moving forward despite barriers!

Hello and thank you for joining our fundraiser.

We are reaching out to all of our friends, family, colleagues and anyone who wants to help on behalf of our beloved friend Ladan who has experienced a rare life-altering event.

It was near the end of July when Ladan caught a bad cold that left her feeling weak and tired. Exhausted from another day of working in the challenging health care setting, she said goodnight to her parents, who were visiting from abroad, and went to bed. Hours later, Ladan awoke to a strange sensation and general feeling of malaise. Struggling to her feet, Ladan was shocked to find that she had limited sensation in her lower legs and could barely walk. Calling out to her parents for help, emergency services were quickly notified and Ladan was rushed to hospital.

As she waited with her family in the emergency room, the weakness and numbness began to increase until she could no longer feel anything below her waist. Unsure of the cause, Ladan underwent a multitude of tests as her healthcare team tried to determine what had happened. Weeks passed as the team worked on Ladan’s case, unable to come to a conclusive agreement for cause or treatment. All Ladan could do was rest in bed as the numbness spread, affecting her arms, hands and even her speech.

One can only imagine the mental and emotional toll on both Ladan and her family as they waited for news on her condition and for a treatment plan that would allow her to return to her life. To date, Ladan remains paralyzed from the waist down. She is one of 1400 people in the world who have had this adverse effect from an infection and her future remains uncertain.

Currently in rehabilitation, Ladan is learning how to use her hands again and is hoping to be able to return home in the near future. It is a long road ahead for Ladan and her family, with many changes in their life, from having to renovate Ladan’s home for accessibility to supplying the means for her to have some independence with her daily activities.

If you are able to, please help us as we try to support Ladan’s wish to return home with her family. Your generosity and compassion in face of the many challenges and barriers that they will face is so very much appreciated.

Our most sincere gratitude for your assistance during these difficult times.