A Chilliwack family with a sick teenager has learned hard lessons about health care, discovering gaps they didn香蕉视频直播檛 know were there.
Gaps that have made a very bad situation nearly unbearable.
Life changed for Addison Johnston in June. It starting with light tingling/numbness from his chest down, along with coordination issues.
香蕉视频直播淗e could not get his feet to move properly,香蕉视频直播� said mom Kristin, who shot a video on her phone showing Addison struggling to get up a flight of stairs. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 like the signals for walking and moving were not going from his brain to his legs.香蕉视频直播�
Over the next four weeks, panicked parents Kristin and Shane took their son to a family doctor, to a walk-in clinic and to the emergency room at Chilliwack Hospital, frantically seeking answers as his symptoms worsened.
Eventually, he could barely walk. At that point, they loaded him into their car and headed for B.C. Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital in Vancouver.
And that香蕉视频直播檚 where the first health care gap appeared.
Wheeling him into the Children香蕉视频直播檚 Hospital ER in a wheelchair, the Johnstons were told that Addison, at 17-years-old, was too old to stay.
He was transferred by ambulance to nearby Vancouver General Hospital.
香蕉视频直播淭o hear the ER doctor tell us he香蕉视频直播檚 not eligible to be treated as a youth at 17 was shocking, especially when we were so worried and stressed,香蕉视频直播� Kristin said, 香蕉视频直播淎ddison can香蕉视频直播檛 vote, drink or even drive yet, but the healthcare system considered him to be an adult.
香蕉视频直播淭hat meant sharing rooms with other adults, being on his own after visiting hours, signing his own consent forms, all while undergoing invasive and stressful medical treatment.香蕉视频直播�
Kristin said VGH did make allowances for him being a minor, allowing one person to stay overnights with him.
In short order, Addison was diagnosed with leukemia. The Johnstons learned that VGH is the only BC hospital that provides treatment, and while patients don香蕉视频直播檛 have to stay at the hospital for the duration, they are required to be within a 30 minute radius.
Had he been at Children香蕉视频直播檚, the Johnstons would have had access to Ronald MacDonald House, a 73-bedroom house that provides lodging and supports for sick kids and families.
Because he was at VGH, they had to rent a place to stay. In Vancouver, that meant $5,295 for a furnished three-bedroom apartment.
香蕉视频直播淲e honestly could not find anything else that would rent month-to-month furnished for less,香蕉视频直播� Kristin said.
Addison and younger brother Ryland (Grade 7) were both pulled out of their Chilliwack schools, and they香蕉视频直播檝e been doing work online.
Had Addison been at Children香蕉视频直播檚 he would have been eligible for the Hospital/Homebound Program. His teachers at G.W. Graham would have coordinated with a tutor at Children香蕉视频直播檚. Kristin said the social worker from the VGH Leukaemia unit contacted Children香蕉视频直播檚 on their behalf to ask if Addison could still access the program, and was told no.
香蕉视频直播淔or Ry, I think it is OK because I can help him with most things, but for Addison it香蕉视频直播檚 huge,香蕉视频直播� Kristin said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 his graduating year and we are trying to make sure he has all his courses, assessments, etc to graduate on time with his peers. But this has meant that some courses that he wanted to complete this year, such as Pre-Calc 12 and French 12, will not happen.香蕉视频直播�
Addison香蕉视频直播檚 journey is far from over. He香蕉视频直播檚 awaiting a bone marrow transplant that hopefully happens in November. He香蕉视频直播檒l need to stay in Vancouver through February so he can be monitored for complications and signs of rejection.
Kristin is hopeful her son will be OK in the end, and she hopes other families can learn from her family香蕉视频直播檚 experiences.
香蕉视频直播滻 wanted to share this story to highlight the gaps for youth in the healthcare system and also to highlight how expensive cancer treatment is,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淧eople have to travel from all over the province to the most expensive city, and there are very few supports available.
香蕉视频直播淚 have taken a leave from my job, which puts a strain on us financially, but I honestly don香蕉视频直播檛 know how anyone could work full time and care for a child with cancer.香蕉视频直播�
There is a GoFundMe set up to help Addison香蕉视频直播檚 family. You can at
eric.welsh@theprogress.com
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