The Comeaus Need Our Help

Hi, my name is Dré Glass and the Comeau's are a very special family to me. This last year had been a nightmare for their family and it is time we all teamed up together and helped them out. My goal is to raise $15,000CAD to help Samuel & Samantha and the kiddos catch up on their expenses and set them up to make it through the next couple tough months of navigating life with a chronically ill child.

Abbey's Medical Journey:

On January 5th, 2023 Abbey, the Comeau's eldest child, was admitted into St. Catharines General Hospital because because of constant vomiting and and electrolyte therapy. That evening her heart was caught on the monitor in the 30’s. The next day day she was booked for transfer to McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton because her heart rate was so low she was at risk of cardiac arrest. Abbey was transferred via ambulance, a crash cart and two pediatric nurses. After 17 days in hospital Abbey was finally diagnosed with Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS). SMAS is a rare disease defined as the compression of the third portion of the duodenum between the abdominal aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. Abbey's doctors decided to go with a conservative approach to treatment with the goal being to restore her weight loss.

April 2023; After two ER trips prior to admission, Abbey is admitted into hospital again because of vomiting. She had no weight loss and no obstruction but there is resistance being caused against material trying to pass through her small intestine. After another 11 days in hospital, Abbey is discharged with no real plan of action.

June 2023; Abbey returns to her pediatrician for a follow up and tells them she is getting full quickly and has had a few days of vomiting. Her concerns are ignored.

July 2023; Abbey is readmitted into McMaster Hospital for vomiting. She is down 9kgs since May. After 12 more days in the hospital, a new diagnosis of Gastroparesis is added to her chart and she is prescribed a new medication. She is again discharged.

September 2023; Abbey is once again admitted into hospital for vomiting. All tests are again suggestive of SMAS. The surgical team at McMaster says she doesn't meet the surgical candidacy for SMAS surgery in Canada. Samantha is reaching out to London Hospital for a second opinion. Again, the doctors send her home with no real plan other that to bring her back if she's sick again.

Over the last 10 months Abbey has been in and out of hospital, is still sick and has no answers. As you can imagine, dealing with a sick child, and getting no answers from the healthcare system is not only mentally frustrating on the whole family but it is also financially draining. Samantha, was unable to work for several months (and was short 37 hours to qualify for the family caregiver benefit) due to taking so much time off to take care of Abbey. She has a new part time job but is still requiring a lot of time off for Abbey’s medical appointments and the hospital admissions. Trips back and forth to the hospital, food, gas, parking, it all adds up. And quick! School is back in session, and the help from their second eldest Madeline to watch the younger children will no longer be an option. The Comeau's are running out of options and with the possibility of having to go to the United States for care, the financial burden has become too much and we are asking for your help.

Where will the money go:

The money I am trying to raise will go towards aiding in household expenses (Mortgage, Car Insurance, Internet, Gas, Water, Phone), Child Care, Lost Wages, and the cost of three passports for Abbey, Samuel and Samantha in the event they have to travel to the US for an emergency.

Thank-you to everyone for taking the time to read this and thank-you in advance for helping out this remarkable family.