For Patti

Those of you that know our mom, Patti, know that she has a bright personality that lights up a room, always knows how to have a great time, and has an endearing charm that makes you feel comfortable when she’s around. Patti was a hard worker from a very young age, sacrificing whatever she could for her family and closest friends, who she loved more than anything.

It was in 2016 when Patti began experiencing unusual headaches and vision issues. After many series of examinations, that summer, she was unexpectedly diagnosed with a benign, atypical meningioma – a form of a non-cancerous but aggressively growing brain tumour. That was the beginning of a new chapter in her life. Patti’s trusted team of specialists began targeted radiation treatments to prevent the tumor from growing any larger. She attended every follow-up, imaging session and treatment as we had no doubt that her medical team's advice was always in her best interest.

The tumor responded positively to the radiation treatment for many years; however, in 2020, Patti’s condition worsened. After several months of research, we found a surgeon that was confident to operate on the tumour that continued to grow aggressively. Even though we understood the risks were high, Patti wanted the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.

The initial surgery took place in July 2021, where the surgeons removed 40% of the tumour. With Patti’s positive energy and determination to get better, she was home after two months of hospitalization and rehab.

A second surgery was scheduled in November 2021 to remove more of the tumour. Unfortunately, some complications occurred during the surgery, leading to Patti being hospitalized in the ICU for eleven months.

In September 2022, we received news that nobody wanted to hear: we have a limited amount of time to spend with our Mom and to make every minute count. Thankfully, after months of coordination with the hospital staff, medical vendors and personal service workers, we got her home, comfortable and at the place she enjoys the most.

We are so grateful to have our mom home, but it comes with its challenges. Patti is entirely dependent and requires 24-hour care. We needed to convert her living room into a hospital room with a new adjustable hospital bed and an air-pressured mattress, a patient lift with harnesses to get her up and into her chair, a custom-sized wheelchair, and an electronic feeding machine – all of which cost about $25,000. Patti’s ongoing care includes daily personal support workers/registered nurses, over-the-counter medicines, daily feeds for each meal, and other consumables like diapers and absorbent pads, for example. The cost of her care alone can exceed $5,000 per month. These costs are out-of-pocket and with minimum government subsidy. Whether you can contribute financially or by keeping Patti in your thoughts and prayers, we greatly appreciate all your support from the bottom of our hearts.