Jackie Paul Needs Our Help

Our friend and mentor Jackie Paul has undergone a traumatic medical experience and we want to help. We are working to raise funds for the long road of recovery ahead, while also raising awareness about the critical state of our health care system in BC.

 

If you wish to make an offline donation please send contributions to 
c/o Jackie Paul
6321 Lakeshore Rd NE 
Salmon Arm, BC
V1E 2M5
Canada
If you would prefer to contribute by Etransfer please contact Myself or Jackie and we can send you the appropriate email address and password. 

Jackie Paul is an integral part of the community and has dedicated her life to helping those who are afflicted with substance abuse disorders. Anyone who knows Jackie personally knows she lives her life to the fullest; always choosing to live in faith over fear. She is the strongest, bravest, and most loving woman I know and has helped me personally become the woman I am today. Her laugh is infectious and her ability to tell it like it is remains unparalleled. Through her career working in the trenches of addiction I have witnessed her touch the lives of hundreds of struggling addicts and alcoholics as well as their families and loved ones. I believe it is time that those that can find it in their hearts to support Jackie, like she has supported so many over the years, can help get the word out and raise funds to ensure she regains as much of the beautiful adventure filled life she was living.

 

On October 19, 2021, Jackie Paul was admitted to Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital after a CT scan uncovered a deadly aortic aneurysm. After safeguarding the strength of her heart, the doctors brought Jackie into surgery on October 22nd to have 3 stents put in with the hopes that this unexpected deadly health scare would be resolved, and she could return home to begin the healing process. Sadly, this wasn’t the case, and it was only the beginning of her horrendous experience. As a rare result of the aortic surgery Jackie began suffering from cholesterol embolism syndrome, also known as the “trash foot” syndrome. The condition develops suddenly, is excruciatingly painful and can be deadly. The toes turn a blue colour due to the lack of oxygen and if left untreated the skin can ulcerate, tissues begin to die and eventually gangrene sets in. If this happens, amputation may be necessary so early treatment is essential.

Jackie was in surgery for 16 hours as they tried to restore blood flow to the foot. Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful, and Jackie was left to “wait and see” while having to watch her left leg slowly die as infection and gangrene began to set in. As days went on the situation became desperate. It was clear the surgery was unsuccessful and as the infection was spreading. Jackie’s life was at stake again. In the worst possible timing, a COVID 19 outbreak plagued Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital and they began locking down units, operating rooms, and restricting visitors. This only amplified the repeated surgical scheduling and repeat cancellations. Unfortunately, Jackie was not the only person suffering on her ward. A man in the same ward had his leg amputated below the knee as well and had the same result. Finally, late on November 10th Jackie was taken into surgery again, this time in an attempt to clean up the first surgery and perhaps save the leg below the knee. It too did not work.

With the COVID outbreak, Jackie underwent her first amputation below the knee alone without the support of her husband. However, she wasn’t out of the woods yet. As with most of the patients of Kamloops Royal Inland hospital, there were repeated surgical scheduling and repeat cancellations. The mental and physical anguish of being scheduled for surgery then only to be cancelled on an almost daily basis is enough to make the best of us feel defeated. Food and medications are withheld, only to have hopes of surgery crushed by a cancellation. All the while nurses and doctors say their hands are simply tied. In a last attempt to shed light on the dire situation at the Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital for herself and other patients, Jackie took to Facebook to get the word out. Her large network of friends, family, and past clients began reaching out to media, politicians, and Interior Health to push for the medical attention that was required. Jackie was interviewed by Global News and other news outlets and suddenly her surgery was scheduled the next day.

In a letter to Interior Health Glenda Powers, the wife of the fellow patient in the ward, wrote “…that there were cheers all around followed by discussions about how strange it felt to be celebrating someone going to have a limb amputated. This is what our healthcare system has brought us to? Normally we would have been horrified, but not after you’ve watched someone suffer for so long.”

 

Ultimately, the above knee amputation surgery took place on November 22, 2021 and Jackie is finally able to begin the healing process. This is only the beginning though, as she will need to learn to adjust to a life without her left leg.

 

An above the knee amputation requires a more technical prosthetic device, with a mechanical, hydraulic, or electronic knee component required.  Initially, Jackie will need a temporary base model prosthetic which range anywhere from $6, 000 - $10, 000 and are partially covered by government support programs. The initial prosthetic device will likely need replacement within a year as Jackie learns what she needs for her lifestyle and body. After thorough research and investigation, it is clear that a basic prosthetic will undoubtedly and unnecessarily prolong Jackie’s suffering in the long term. A base-model leg will limit her activities and impact her quality of life. Other individuals who have had above knee amputations and are living with basic prosthetics have explained that they are experiencing horrible back problems, hips out of alignment, and pain in their remaining knee due to the added stress caused by the prosthetic. We are raising money with a goal of purchasing an electronic knee/leg for Jackie so that she can be as safe and as optimally mobile as possible. A microprocessor knee will help Jackie be more stable, help prevent falling, and help her enjoy the quality of life she deserves. Unfortunately, microprocessor knees are not funded by government support programs and can cost upwards of $50,000. Jackie will also need a wheelchair for when she doesn’t have the prosthetic on, some home modifications to ensure access for her wheelchair and ongoing physio appointments to adjust to her new circumstances and get her back to living life.

 

It is important to Jackie that we also inform as many people as possible about the current state of Interior Health. In Jackie’s interview with Global news, she made an ominous warning to the public “Don’t get sick. You do not want to be here right now.” What she was referring to is the dire situation of the overrun hospitals and overworked staff that cannot give the patients the care they need. Due to COVID 19 and staffing shortages, for the period November 3rd to 17th there were 82 scheduled surgeries cancelled between Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital and Kelowna General Hospital alone. A nurse at Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital said at one point there were only 3 nurses on for 35 patients, 3 of which were fresh out of surgery; it was a very dangerous situation. Another nurse was overheard in the hallway outside the ward discussing the fact that she was afraid of losing her license because she couldn’t give sufficient care to her patients due to the continual staffing shortage. More doctors and nurses are urgently needed. However, because of Interior Health and their operating practices, more staff are quitting than being hired. When Glenda Powers called Interior Health’s Patient Quality Care line, she was informed she would be unable to speak with anyone for at least 3 weeks. At the urging of a hospital staff member, she called the seniors’ Ombudsperson, Megan Stewart. Ms. Stewart contacted Interior Health, but there is a limit to how much she could do. In no way are the nurses and doctors to blame for the deterioration of our health care system. Through this experience it has become very clear their hands are tied and the solution must come from Interior Health and our government.

 

In closing, if you can find it in your heart to help Jackie with these costs going forward, I know she would be forever grateful. I understand a lot of people aren’t in a position to donate this year due to the current state of the world, but if you can share and pass along Jackie’s story to your network you’re getting the word out, and that really helps in itself.

 

 

Jackie on Global News

Jackie on Kamloops Daybreak Radio

Warning the following content contains some graphic images.

 

Cholesterol Embolism Syndrome, also known as the “trash foot” syndrome.

 

Jackie after her first amputation below the knee, a Rockstar as always.

 

The leg after the first amputation which was unsuccessful in stopping the gangrene and infection.

Jackie after the above knee amputation finally on the road to healing.