Support Bistro worker (RoseMarie) w/ sick daughter
Donation protected
Info for GoFundMe for Withdraw:
1. Who you are and where you’re from: Mariah Campbell, student at Osgoode Hall Law school from Toronto, Ontario.
2. Your relationship or contact to the parties you're raising funds for: I became friends with RoseMarie at Osgoode - she works in the Osgoode Bistro where students frequently buy coffee and snacks.
3. How the funds will be spent (be specific as possible): The funds will be spent helping with out-of-pocket medical expenses for Rose and her daughter. See more specific breakdown outlined below.
4. Your withdrawal plan to get the funds from the campaign to the ultimate beneficiary/ies: I have set up the Withdraw process so that RoseMarie is the beneficiary and the funds will go straight to her.
Osgoode Hall Law School Community - Osgoode’s Bistro Workers
The Osgoode Bistro and its workers are an integral part of the Osgoode community, but one that is oft not recognized as such. It’s because of the Bistro and its workers that we don’t have to venture outside our hallowed halls and brave the hoards of York for sustenance unless we so choose. When there isn’t a global pandemic, they are always there providing us with hot food, fresh coffee and most importantly, a smile. Yet so much of what they do can and is, often taken for granted. When we arrive on campus in the morning after a long commute desperate for our coffee or snacks to get us through the day, or pour out of class desperate for a break and get caught up in conversations with our classmates as we congregate in the Bistro waiting to pay, it is easy to overlook the people providing us with those delicious beef patties and taking our change. But if given the chance, they will always ask how you are doing and if you’re having a good day. They are often the only constant in an otherwise hectic and stressful day - and we all know that we have a lot of those as law students (and as faculty members having to deal with law students). We rarely have the chance to give any of the Bistro worker’s the appreciation they deserve and return the support and encouragement they dole out daily in our times of need. Until now.
Bistro Worker RoseMarie Aggalut’s Daughter (Marianne) is in Need of a Kidney Transplant
I’m sure like many of you, during my time at Osgoode so far I have developed friendships with the ladies at the Bistro. After one of my first days of class (in Sept 2018), I remember getting coffee with my huge stack of books I had just purchased from upper year students - Rose (RoseMarie) was at the cash and was so calm and welcoming, asking how I was doing. And when I looked at the huge stack of books and laughed at how intimidating it was, she was so encouraging and has been ever since.
So when I found out a few months ago that her daughter was really sick and in need of a kidney transplant I was really concerned. Rose was hoping to be the donor but the work-up process to determine eligibility is is lengthly and requires numerous tests. I would check in with her regularly prior to the cancellation of classes for any updates on her daughter’s condition and on her own test results. Sometimes Rose wouldn’t be at work because she had to take time off to either undertake her own tests or to care for her daughter.
While everyone has been affected by the pandemic, it has made Rose’s situation with her daughter unbearably hard. Her daughter is currently immunocompromised because of her condition and had to be admitted to North York General Hospital on March 22 because her white blood cell count was so low. Since then her has condition worsened; she was moved to the ICU on April 1 and has been there ever since.
Rose has only been able to visit her daughter once, as under current circumstances they do not allow visitors. I was able to be put in contact with Rose and spoke with her over the phone on Sunday. It was a heartbreaking phone call because all Rose wants to be able to do is to take care of her daughter and to bring her food since she wasn’t eating any of the hospital food. The distress in her voice was palpable. From what I understood, Marianne is 22 and is her only child. Her husband is still working but like the other Bistro workers, she has been out of work, so all day she just waits by the phone hoping for good news.
Due to Covid-19, they no longer know when Marianne will be able to receive her life-saving transplant. All living donation and transplant surgeries related to the Kidney Paired Donation program have been postponed for a minimum of six weeks, effective Monday, March 16. Surgeries will only be rescheduled once there is consensus that it is safe to do so for both donors and recipients. Organ transplant recipients are, or are likely to become, immunocompromised, and may be at increased risk of more severe outcomes related to COVID-19. With the ever changing and evolving nature of this pandemic and current forecasts of it lasting as long as 18months to 2 years in Ontario, it is a very scary and uncertain time for Rose and her family.
*For more information on how Covid-19 is affecting organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Canada click here .
Raising money to support Rose and her family through this difficult time
As a result of the pandemic, I’ve spent a lot of time feeling helpless - and I’m sure I’m not alone. Focusing on what I can do is really helping me with my own mental health and well-being. And what I can do is help raise money for Rose and her family. I also think that as a community, focusing on helping one of our own will allow us to put our own troubles in perspective, and will hopefully contribute to some level of collective healing caused by the pandemic and the divisive debates regarding pass/fail which ensued.
*I have received permission from Rose to do this GoFundMe campaign and to share the aforementioned details. Now that I have her contact information, I will be checking in on her every few days and will share any important updates on this page (with her permission).
*If you want to check-in on any of the other Bistro workers, you can contact Tom Watt - Director of Food Services at York: [email redacted]. However due to their privacy policies, you may not be able to contact them directly.
What the money will go towards:
1. Supplementing the family’s income while Rose is out of work due to Covid-19 and providing a bit of extra comfort during this difficult time.
Due to her daughter’s immunocompromised condition and as one of her primary caregivers, it is unknown if Rose will be able to return to work even when it is deemed “safe” for regular persons.
2. Past, current & future trips to North York General hospital & Dr. appointments
It can take about a year to complete the work-up process to determine if a living donor (hopefully Rose) is an eligible match. During this time there are a number of tests required and hospital visits required.
- Taking time off work to attend these appointments
- Parking and transportation to the hospital / appointments
- Buying food at the hospital cafeteria
3. Post-transplant care for both RoseMarie/ donor & Marianne (fingers crossed it will still happen eventually)
- After the transplant, recipients need to take anti-rejection medication every day to prevent the immune system from rejecting the kidney.
- The medication is not always covered under health insurance.
- Regular blood tests are needed to watch for signs of rejection.
- Donors may have a number of appointments in addition to time off work for the surgical procedure and recovery.
*To learn more about the financial burden of out-of-pocket costs for Canadians with kidney failure click “here ” for the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s 2018 report.
April is “Be a donor month”
If you can’t afford to donate money at this time, please take some time to consider registering your consent for organ donation & talking with your friends and family about being a donor.
https://www.nygh.on.ca/newsroom/have-you-signed-save-life
<<April is Be A Donor month and many families say that organ donations often ease their grief because they know their personal tragedy gave new life to others. For many families however, the decision to permit an organ and/or tissue donation is difficult as they are not aware of their loved ones wishes. This is why it is so important to register your consent to donate and talk to your family about being a donor.>>
https://beadonor.ca/about-donation
Organ and Tissue Donation: The Facts
Today, in Ontario, there are over 1,500 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. This is their only treatment option, and every 3 days someone will die because they did not get their transplant in time.
But you can help. When you register your consent for organ and tissue donation, you let those waiting know that you would help them if you could.
*For more information about organ donation and how to sign up, please visit https://beadonor.ca.
1. Who you are and where you’re from: Mariah Campbell, student at Osgoode Hall Law school from Toronto, Ontario.
2. Your relationship or contact to the parties you're raising funds for: I became friends with RoseMarie at Osgoode - she works in the Osgoode Bistro where students frequently buy coffee and snacks.
3. How the funds will be spent (be specific as possible): The funds will be spent helping with out-of-pocket medical expenses for Rose and her daughter. See more specific breakdown outlined below.
4. Your withdrawal plan to get the funds from the campaign to the ultimate beneficiary/ies: I have set up the Withdraw process so that RoseMarie is the beneficiary and the funds will go straight to her.
Osgoode Hall Law School Community - Osgoode’s Bistro Workers
The Osgoode Bistro and its workers are an integral part of the Osgoode community, but one that is oft not recognized as such. It’s because of the Bistro and its workers that we don’t have to venture outside our hallowed halls and brave the hoards of York for sustenance unless we so choose. When there isn’t a global pandemic, they are always there providing us with hot food, fresh coffee and most importantly, a smile. Yet so much of what they do can and is, often taken for granted. When we arrive on campus in the morning after a long commute desperate for our coffee or snacks to get us through the day, or pour out of class desperate for a break and get caught up in conversations with our classmates as we congregate in the Bistro waiting to pay, it is easy to overlook the people providing us with those delicious beef patties and taking our change. But if given the chance, they will always ask how you are doing and if you’re having a good day. They are often the only constant in an otherwise hectic and stressful day - and we all know that we have a lot of those as law students (and as faculty members having to deal with law students). We rarely have the chance to give any of the Bistro worker’s the appreciation they deserve and return the support and encouragement they dole out daily in our times of need. Until now.
Bistro Worker RoseMarie Aggalut’s Daughter (Marianne) is in Need of a Kidney Transplant
I’m sure like many of you, during my time at Osgoode so far I have developed friendships with the ladies at the Bistro. After one of my first days of class (in Sept 2018), I remember getting coffee with my huge stack of books I had just purchased from upper year students - Rose (RoseMarie) was at the cash and was so calm and welcoming, asking how I was doing. And when I looked at the huge stack of books and laughed at how intimidating it was, she was so encouraging and has been ever since.
So when I found out a few months ago that her daughter was really sick and in need of a kidney transplant I was really concerned. Rose was hoping to be the donor but the work-up process to determine eligibility is is lengthly and requires numerous tests. I would check in with her regularly prior to the cancellation of classes for any updates on her daughter’s condition and on her own test results. Sometimes Rose wouldn’t be at work because she had to take time off to either undertake her own tests or to care for her daughter.
While everyone has been affected by the pandemic, it has made Rose’s situation with her daughter unbearably hard. Her daughter is currently immunocompromised because of her condition and had to be admitted to North York General Hospital on March 22 because her white blood cell count was so low. Since then her has condition worsened; she was moved to the ICU on April 1 and has been there ever since.
Rose has only been able to visit her daughter once, as under current circumstances they do not allow visitors. I was able to be put in contact with Rose and spoke with her over the phone on Sunday. It was a heartbreaking phone call because all Rose wants to be able to do is to take care of her daughter and to bring her food since she wasn’t eating any of the hospital food. The distress in her voice was palpable. From what I understood, Marianne is 22 and is her only child. Her husband is still working but like the other Bistro workers, she has been out of work, so all day she just waits by the phone hoping for good news.
Due to Covid-19, they no longer know when Marianne will be able to receive her life-saving transplant. All living donation and transplant surgeries related to the Kidney Paired Donation program have been postponed for a minimum of six weeks, effective Monday, March 16. Surgeries will only be rescheduled once there is consensus that it is safe to do so for both donors and recipients. Organ transplant recipients are, or are likely to become, immunocompromised, and may be at increased risk of more severe outcomes related to COVID-19. With the ever changing and evolving nature of this pandemic and current forecasts of it lasting as long as 18months to 2 years in Ontario, it is a very scary and uncertain time for Rose and her family.
*For more information on how Covid-19 is affecting organ and tissue donation and transplantation in Canada click here .
Raising money to support Rose and her family through this difficult time
As a result of the pandemic, I’ve spent a lot of time feeling helpless - and I’m sure I’m not alone. Focusing on what I can do is really helping me with my own mental health and well-being. And what I can do is help raise money for Rose and her family. I also think that as a community, focusing on helping one of our own will allow us to put our own troubles in perspective, and will hopefully contribute to some level of collective healing caused by the pandemic and the divisive debates regarding pass/fail which ensued.
*I have received permission from Rose to do this GoFundMe campaign and to share the aforementioned details. Now that I have her contact information, I will be checking in on her every few days and will share any important updates on this page (with her permission).
*If you want to check-in on any of the other Bistro workers, you can contact Tom Watt - Director of Food Services at York: [email redacted]. However due to their privacy policies, you may not be able to contact them directly.
What the money will go towards:
1. Supplementing the family’s income while Rose is out of work due to Covid-19 and providing a bit of extra comfort during this difficult time.
Due to her daughter’s immunocompromised condition and as one of her primary caregivers, it is unknown if Rose will be able to return to work even when it is deemed “safe” for regular persons.
2. Past, current & future trips to North York General hospital & Dr. appointments
It can take about a year to complete the work-up process to determine if a living donor (hopefully Rose) is an eligible match. During this time there are a number of tests required and hospital visits required.
- Taking time off work to attend these appointments
- Parking and transportation to the hospital / appointments
- Buying food at the hospital cafeteria
3. Post-transplant care for both RoseMarie/ donor & Marianne (fingers crossed it will still happen eventually)
- After the transplant, recipients need to take anti-rejection medication every day to prevent the immune system from rejecting the kidney.
- The medication is not always covered under health insurance.
- Regular blood tests are needed to watch for signs of rejection.
- Donors may have a number of appointments in addition to time off work for the surgical procedure and recovery.
*To learn more about the financial burden of out-of-pocket costs for Canadians with kidney failure click “here ” for the Kidney Foundation of Canada’s 2018 report.
April is “Be a donor month”
If you can’t afford to donate money at this time, please take some time to consider registering your consent for organ donation & talking with your friends and family about being a donor.
https://www.nygh.on.ca/newsroom/have-you-signed-save-life
<<April is Be A Donor month and many families say that organ donations often ease their grief because they know their personal tragedy gave new life to others. For many families however, the decision to permit an organ and/or tissue donation is difficult as they are not aware of their loved ones wishes. This is why it is so important to register your consent to donate and talk to your family about being a donor.>>
https://beadonor.ca/about-donation
Organ and Tissue Donation: The Facts
Today, in Ontario, there are over 1,500 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. This is their only treatment option, and every 3 days someone will die because they did not get their transplant in time.
But you can help. When you register your consent for organ and tissue donation, you let those waiting know that you would help them if you could.
*For more information about organ donation and how to sign up, please visit https://beadonor.ca.
Organizer and beneficiary
Mariah Campbell
Organizer
Toronto, ON
Rosemarie Aggalut
Beneficiary