What is wrong with our Province!? *So Angry!*

[Elisa]

Here's another teenager from British Columbia who has been made to wait and wait and wait for spine surgery at BC Children's Hospital. This makes me SO angry! I am been in contact with the mom and she and her son are heading down to Spokane Washington on Tuesday for treatment at the Shriners Hospital For Kids down there. Thank God! >_<

I am hoping to keep in touch with her while her son undergoes traction and she will stay with him at the hospital. I think the young man is going to be staying there for three months so not a short stint by any means. My heart goes out to them and I wish them all the best.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBjDB...ature=youtu.be

[Elisa]

Yeah, I'm not a very religious person either Pooka and was using the term loosely. How about "thank Shriners and all the wonderful people who support them!" :-)

Edit: Here's the mom's facebook. Seems like that's the only way to get our kids seen by a specialist in this province. Either that or come on here and beg for help like I did.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/No-Mor...42834155728009

[Pooka1]

Well I completely agree with that!

The situation with the wait times in Canada is off the hook. These kids have their entire lives ahead of them. These waits might comprise their entire life. It's so scary to contemplate and it makes me mad knowing that earlier action has a great chance of giving these kids their life back.

So glad Walid is going to get help soon. Life is so unfair.

Thanks for posting that, Spiny Mouse.

[Elisa]

Walid's story is churning up my rage and resentment against our health system here in BC and I want to scream and swear and beat the hell out of someone but that won't change anything. Again, another reason why it's probably a good idea that I'm on this island or I'd blow my top and end up in jail or something even though 'they', the ones responsible for this are the criminals not me. Okay, I'm going to settle down now and enjoy my wine and smile that this young man will finally get the care he needs, just like my baby did. Looking through her facebook page I recognize the driver Archer as he's the one who picked us up from the Island and then brought the big bus back on the ferry so Elias could be more comfy in the recliners. I also see that Amy (Donovan's mom) commented on her page as well. Small world. :-)

[Pooka1]

Who complained about my post such that it was deleted?

Adults afraid of words. Cowards. Isn't it time to grow up and man up?

[CAmomof2]

Elisa,
I'm so glad that your title says "our province", because we go to the IWK in Halifax, NS and have had wonderful service. Sorry that BC seems to be lacking in this area, it is terrible to have to wait so long!! Just wanted to clarify that every province is not so bad. For example, our daughter was told in July that she would need surgery and she is going to be scheduled for end of Nov or early Dec. Glad your son is doing good now. Hope we can have a happy ending too to this rollercoaster ride!!

[JDM555]

Who complained about my post such that it was deleted?

Adults afraid of words. Cowards. Isn't it time to grow up and man up?

I had a feeling there was a missing post lol.

[Pooka1]

I had a feeling there was a missing post lol.

Apparently you can't call counterfactual nonsense counterfactual nonsense.

If something doesn't make sense then it probably isn't true.

On the one hand, we have innocent beautiful children suffering. On the other hand we have ridiculous claims that are inconsistent with the existence of innocent beautiful children suffering.

I don't know how people live with their intellectual DISHONESTY. That would eat me up alive.

[Elisa]

Walid's mom called me this morning and we had a nice chat. Our stories are so similar even though her son has scoliosis/kyphosis whereas Elias had the severe scoliosis only. I have encouraged her to join here so she can ask questions and get more information and of course to meet others as well. I also asked her if she would start her own blog so we can all follow along with them on their journey. I hope she does! She also knows much more about the 'politics' of BC Children's Hospital b/c she has dealt with them in person as well as she is a nurse who works in the system. I'd love to learn more about all of this b/c I honestly have no idea why they have let our kids' health deteriorate to the point where their lives are in danger. It's criminal!

I asked her why Walid would be doing twelve hours of traction instead of twenty four like Elias did and she said that his surgeon feels that twelve hours a day is all his spine can handle given its severity. Makes sense. I am so pleased to know they are on their way next week to get started on Walid's treatment and I do hope mom does join up here soon.

[Elisa]

Elisa,
I'm so glad that your title says "our province", because we go to the IWK in Halifax, NS and have had wonderful service. Sorry that BC seems to be lacking in this area, it is terrible to have to wait so long!! Just wanted to clarify that every province is not so bad. For example, our daughter was told in July that she would need surgery and she is going to be scheduled for end of Nov or early Dec. Glad your son is doing good now. Hope we can have a happy ending too to this rollercoaster ride!!

That's great that your daughter received such good and timely care in Nova Scotia. I wish I knew why we are having so much trouble with ridiculous wait lists here in BC. I guess I need to do my own research as well as listen more to political discussions when they're on TV. I do have an interest in this type of thing but I still find it really hard to understand the whole problem. I still don't know WHY we only have two pediatric scoliosis surgeons in the entire province of five million people. What's with that? We are a rich province and the money is apparently there so why can't we bring in a few more surgeons? And why are they spending 93 million dollars on a new hospital... is that really necessary? I wish someone could explain it all to me b/c I am baffled.

[Elisa]

http://www.globaltvbc.com/video/wait...142&s=dd#video

Both Debbie (Walid's mom) and Amy (Donovan's mom) are nurses and live on the mainland and yet they got absolutely nowhere with setting up surgery for their sons. I am not a nurse, so don't work with the medical system, live on an island that is actually not a part of the mainland's system (we have our own: VIHA, Vancouver Island Health Authority) so if these moms had such a long and frustrating struggle with BC Children's Hospital... Elias would have been left and forgotten about I'm afraid. I think about other families who live in much more remote regions of BC and who do not have access to computers or who are not computer savvy and cringe to think how their kids are suffering. See, I really am 'So glad I found you guys!' You have literally saved Elias and I am extremely grateful for all the help you gave me and I hope to be able to return the favour to others.

[Pooka1]

Spiny Mouse,

Just posting the testimonial about Elias and you has been a great contribution to this forum in my opinion. All testimonials are valuable but yours is especially so since we don't see too many halo traction cases posted.

[Elisa]

Pooka, I'm glad I could be of some assistance to the forum and do hope others learn something or other from our experience.

I know that Joe O is the one who approves new members but I can't seem to be able to contact him at the moment so just wanted to say that Walid's mom did join this forum and is awaiting approval. I just don't want her to be confused with all the spammers around here lately. I believe her handle is "walid".

[CAmomof2]

http://www.globaltvbc.com/video/wait...142&s=dd#video

Elisa,
I just watched this link from Global TV that you posted - HORRIBLE!!! My heart goes out to them! This is inexcusible! I have heard rumors that BC Children's is getting another Ped. Ortho surgeon right away - looks like it can't come soon enough!!

[Elisa]

It is horrible and it must be terribly embarrassing for BC Childrens Hospital and our medical system in general. We live in BC... NOT Romania but it feels that way!

I've been keeping in touch with the mom Debbie via emails and she is updating Walid's facebook page daily. She looks so exhausted in the pic she posted this morning. They both have such a loooong journey ahead of them.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/No-Mor...42834155728009

That would be great if another pediatric orthopedic surgeon joined the team (not much of a team imo) to help out but I am sure the problems also have to do with mismanagment of funds etc. At least that is what I am gathering.