Support life-changing spinal surgery for Sadie

My name is Sarah and I am a close friend to Sadie. Some of you may not be aware, but she has been suffering from severe unexplained pain for years and she needs our help.

After years of painful and worsening symptoms, and numerous invasive medical procedures and injections, Sadie, a beloved mother, wife, friend and member of the Brockville community, has finally received the diagnosis that could change her life - a rare degenerative neurological disorder called Tarlov Cyst Disease (TCD).

But, living in a province (and country) where TCD is barely understood, and certainly not treated appropriately, Sadie and her family are faced with a difficult decision: wait years for the possibility of specialized care here at home in Ontario, and risk permanent nerve damage that could make it impossible to stand, sit, and work, or, pay out-of-pocket for immediate surgery abroad, and have a chance at a pain-free future where she can still walk and play with her children.

To tackle this disease before the damage worsens and becomes a life sentence, Sadie needs this surgery now. While good health is priceless, the cost of this surgery to treat the cysts on her spine is a staggering $85,000 CAD, plus travel.

Early in the New Year, she will have the opportunity to travel to Cyprus, where world renowned U.S. neurosurgeon Dr. Frank Feigenbaum practices as part of an international surgical group for those suffering from this disease. Let’s help send Sadie to Cyprus and get her back the life she deserves.

The hurdles to getting help at home are insurmountable.

Unfortunately, there is no one in Ontario who can perform the surgery Sadie needs. Despite her ongoing requests for a referral to an Ontario neurosurgeon, she has either been referred elsewhere or denied. This disease is rare and not well understood. Even with the appropriate referral, it could take months, if not years, before an available appointment.

Yet, the process to even apply for the funds for out of province surgery requires the endorsement of a neurosurgeon who would apply to OHIP on Sadie’s behalf. After years of waiting, these requests typically get denied. The longer Sadie waits, the more likely her nerve damage is to become permanent. Sadie and her family can’t wait any longer.

Sadie is the proud mother of two young sons – aged 8 and 5. She has been a volunteer coach with the Brockville Minor Hockey Association and enjoyed playing competitive hockey herself, until the indescribable pain associated with TCD made that impossible. She is active in her home community of Brockville and has volunteered assisting victims of crime in accessing resources and supporting women leaving abusive relationships with her advocacy work.

Sadie isn’t just a supportive friend, colleague and community member, she is also a fun-loving and hilariously witty woman who is beloved by all who know her. She deserves a better quality of life – where she can go to work and play with her kids again, pain-free. She deserves a future where she can still walk when her children graduate and have families of their own.

Even a small donation can make a world of difference for Sadie and her family. Chip in and help Sadie get the life-changing spinal surgery she needs! If anyone would like to donate to Sadie directly, you can contact me for her email to send an e-transfer.

Thank you!