Help Carolyn and Charlene with Medical Bills

They say when it rains, it pours, and my friends my family is unfortunately experiencing a torrential downpour.

I know for all of us this year has been extremely difficult in many ways, that’s why it’s rather difficult for me to have to ask you for donations to my family’s GoFundMe to help my sister Charlene and I pay for medical bills for a recent family emergency.

This past October my family experienced a serious scare when my mother Pamela fell hitting her head on the ground after suffering a severe bought of vertigo and loss of balance. Thankfully Charlene was home at the time with our mum when it happened and was able to immediately help her and call the ambulance.

Due to her age – she turned 70-years-old in March, a previous spinal injury that led to her having to receive multiple spinal surgeries and years of rehab, two severe concisions from unrelated incidents, as well as a diagnosis of Ménière disease, mum had to receive both a head and spinal CT and two MRI scans.

As part of her treatment, she was kept overnight in the hospital for additional assessment and observation. Because my mum fell while she was visiting Charlene and I here in Toronto, she isn’t covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) aka Ontario universal healthcare, and unbeknownst to us unfortunately hadn’t purchased travel insurance for her three months stay in Toronto.

The cost of the ambulance, ER triage and stay, blood testing, and CT and MRI scans amounted to over CDN$7,200, way more than Charlene and I had anticipated, and than we can afford at our own our current financial position. Thus, this GoFundMe requesting donations of up CDN$8,000 has been created to help offset the emergency medical care and related expenses.

As I’m writing this, Charlene is back home with mum in Barbados making sure she’s comfortable and settled, before returning to Toronto. I unfortunately I couldn’t travel home to Barbados with them as I was in Korea at the time doing my work as a film critic and journalist.

Charlene, I, our mum, and our brother Sean who lives at home in Barbados and is also taking care of mum, would be extremely grateful for any help that can be given. Literally no amount would be too small. We know times have been very trying for everyone, especially financially, and appreciate the kind thoughts and well wishes.