Keri Gardner of Preeceville and her family lived a normal live until her husband Rod got gravely ill.
He's been seeing doctors since December and it seems no doctor that he has seen to date can figure out what's going on with him, said Gardner.
“He was a healthy, active 46-year-old man who has withered away to a shell of the man I once knew,” she said. He can no longer work or enjoy any activities. His life now consists of sitting in a recliner waiting on trips to Saskatoon to see one specialist after another.
Gardner said her husband is six-feet, two inches tall and has lost 40 pounds unintentionally.
“He suffers from pain so severely he can hardly take care of himself.
“He now weighs 169 pounds and lost almost six pounds in two weeks. We are at the end of our rope.”
The couple went to Saskatoon in the hopes to get answers. They drove four hours and waited eight hours in the University Hospital for a doctor, only to return home with the news that it's all in his head.
Two days later, they received a phone call from that same doctor stating some of his bloodwork showed some abnormality. She ordered a CT scan of his head, chest and abdomen and made referrals to a urologist and endocrinologist.
The results of these CT scans provided more questions than answers, she said. The radiologist in Yorkton said the CT of his brain, chest and abdomen had no abnormalities, however once he was referred to a urologist, which took 17 days, he was told that he had “picked up on something.
“This makes us question the radiologist’s normal assessment of his chest and brain as well. Our family doctor sides with the radiologist which leads me to believe everybody is too concerned with covering their behinds than finding out what's wrong with my husband.”
Regarding the endocrinologist, Keri said that Rod finally got an appointment for mid-September.
“We all know that an appointment doesn't necessarily mean a diagnosis. More likely than not it just means more tests; tests that take weeks to get booked for.
“Rod is losing extreme amounts of weight and is in severe abdominal pain and is being told he will have to wait up to six weeks for certain tests. My fear is finding out that ‘oops, we dropped the ball; it’s too late and there's nothing that can be done.’
He has had numerous tests beginning in May, including two scopes, four CT scans, an ultrasound and bloodwork two to three times per week.
“Each time we see a new doctor, new tests are ordered, all of which takes time.”
Rod’s latest appointment with his family doctor last week ended with yet another referral to a specialist as some of his tests that were done three weeks ago are abnormal, she said.
According to a urologist that he was referred to in Saskatoon, he needs a scope and biopsy of his kidneys as well as a bladder cancer test.
"Cancer runs in Rod's family and it is a very real possibility.
“After hours and hours of research, it has been decided that we can't wait any longer on a diagnosis. Rod's symptoms are increasing each day.”
She said that Rod has applied to and has been accepted as a patient at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
After speaking with the international representative, she said that the Mayo clinic doctors all work together under one roof.
“There are no wait times and in fact we should have a diagnosis and treatment plan in eight to 10 business days.
“That's a far cry from the health care he is getting in Saskatchewan.”
The couple had to send a deposit of $7,000 to the Mayo Clinic before they even travelled there.
"The cost is very high and we are at the brink of bankruptcy. I do think that some of these costs should be covered by our government as the wait times to see the doctors that need to be consulted are extreme. Our health care system is broken.
"I have spoken with Greg Ottenbreit, Saskatchewan minister of rural health, who encouraged me to call Quality Care in Saskatoon," she said. "I was then encouraged to call the provincial claim representative office to inquire about out-of-country health coverage.
“I was told he needs a doctor to recommend he seek treatment in the USA and this needed to be done before seeking treatment the USA or it won't even be considered.
“Of course, this all takes time. Not only that, but what doctor is going to admit that Canada cannot provide sufficient treatment and recommend treatment in another country?
“I am not quitting there though. I plan to keep pushing for change for our broken health care system. The more people I talk to, the more ‘horror stories’ I hear.”
Rod’s urologist finally agreed to submit a letter to the review office regarding seeking treatment in the United States, she said, adding that this was the first step in the right direction for the couple.
Rod and Keri are unsure what to expect at the Mayo Clinic.
“It has been a very exhausting fight and I won't quit. I will be fighting for everyone.”
Gardner met with Christopher Thresher, chief of staff to the Minister of Health on August 31.
"I handed over the 6,000 signatures and explained the petition and how the doctors and province dropped the ball on Rod’s health care needs and provided him with a detailed timeline of all the doctors’ appointments in Yorkton, Preeceville and Saskatoon.”
With Thresher, Keri went into great detail of some of the stories people had messaged her in regards to the lengthy wait times for specialists and tests, as well as an emergency room adventure on Saskatoon.
“It was quite a lengthy discussion which I hope will bring forth some much-needed changes,” she said. “As far as funding, he stated it has to go before a review committee however he will expedite the process as he knows Rod’s first appointment is on September 7.”
