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Dear friends, family, and kind strangers,
I never imagined I would be writing something like this, but life has brought more pain and challenges than I ever thought possible.
My name is Irene. I am a mother, a widow, and someone trying to hold her family together after years of loss, trauma, and ongoing health struggles.
In 1999, I gave birth to my first daughter. During my pregnancy, I felt something was wrong. I asked doctors many times for additional ultrasounds because I was very unwell and deeply worried. Unfortunately, my concerns were not taken seriously, as the doctor thought I was too young to have any health complications. A serious heart condition was not identified during pregnancy. My daughter was born very sick; we never took her home; she had open heart surgery, dialysis, and many, many other procedures... After almost two months of fighting for her life, she passed away. That loss has stayed with me forever.
In May 2023, my husband Anatoli fell from a ladder. Soon after, he began experiencing pain and complications. In June, he went to a walk-in clinic, was given medication, and sent home. But his condition kept getting worse.
We went to three different hospitals again and again; he was admitted to one and had multiple CT scans and X-rays—nine in total. Each time, we were told it was just a hematoma that would go away.
But it didn’t.
By August, his pain became unbearable. He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t straighten his leg, and even strong medications like morphine did not help. We kept returning to the emergency department, hoping for answers, but we were repeatedly sent home.
On September 5th, I asked for an MRI because I was deeply concerned. He also had visible growths, and I feared something more serious like sarcoma. Still, we were reassured not to worry and that it will go away in a few months.
It wasn’t until mid-September that a doctor finally questioned why no MRI had been done; he was admitted to another hospital, and after I wrote to the CEO of the hospital and after more waiting, he finally received an MRI and biopsy.
In October, we were given the diagnosis: a rare and aggressive cancer—Ewing Sarcoma, cancer of bones and soft tissues stage 4...
He went through chemotherapy and 25 rounds of radiation, but his body became too weak to continue. The cancer spread to his lungs and then further in his body. He became extremely weak and eventually was no longer able to walk.
We were told he might have a month.
He passed away just four days later.
He died in my arms, surrounded by family, conscious, and his last words were, “Time to go home.”
I lost my husband. My daughter lost her father.
At the same time, I have been facing my own serious health challenges. In September, I underwent surgery for a deviated septum. Despite my existing conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and being immunocompromised, complications followed.
After the surgery, I was unable to reach my doctor when I urgently needed help. My condition worsened, and I developed a serious infection that turned into sepsis. I was hospitalized and fighting for my life for a week.
After being discharged, I required a PICC line and was on IV antibiotics for a month and a half. A nurse had to come to my home every day to manage the treatment.
The doctors had to remove the surgical stents early to stop the infection from spreading. Because of this, the surgery was unsuccessful, and I continue to deal with ongoing health problems and complications. Even now, I am still not fully recovered.
During the most difficult time of my life, while grieving my husband and trying to survive physically, I also experienced deep personal betrayal. People I once trusted turned against me during the most difficult times, fabricated a criminal lawsuit against me (it has been withdrawn), and spread rumours and allegations against me, which added even more emotional stress and affected my mental health, as well as the well-being of my daughter and my mother-in-law. We are still trying to heal from this.
Today, I am doing everything I can to move forward, but it is incredibly difficult. I am on long-term disability, and my ability to work is very limited. I am struggling financially just to cover basic needs.
My daughter is also struggling with her health, both physical and mental, especially after everything we have been through. The emotional and physical toll on our family has been overwhelming. We are also coping with the loss of one of our beloved dogs, who was part of our family.
Before my husband passed, I made him a promise that I would seek accountability and make sure his story is not forgotten.
This fundraiser is not only about financial support. It is about survival, healing, and trying to rebuild our lives after everything we have been through.
We are asking for help with:
Legal costs to pursue accountability
Medical expenses and ongoing treatment
Daily living costs while I recover
Support for my daughter’s health and future
If you are able to help in any way, way, whether by donating or sharing this story, it truly means more than I can express.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for standing with us during the most difficult time in our lives.
With gratitude,
Irene ❤️