Fighting for transplant beds

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18 year old, Laura Hillier from Burlington died in January after a long battle with cancer. She needed a stem cell transplant but, the wait list was too long.

She was very vocal about her desire to live and thought speaking out would save her life. It didn’t, and now Laura’s mother is taking over the fight to change the way health care is provided in this province.

Hamilton’s program at the Jurivinski Cancer Centre at the time could provide about five transplants per month. When Laura arrived for treatment, more than 30 other patients were already waiting their turn.

During that time she used every bit of energy talking to the media telling her story about having to wait for cancer treatment and her desire to live.

Since her death, the Health Ministry approved more than $100 million in spending to redirect hundreds of patients who will probably die waiting for transplants in Ontario to hospitals in Cleveland, Buffalo and Detroit.

Laura was denied that opportunity.

In an email response Minister of Health Eric Hoskins says:

“It is unacceptable that individuals, together with their families, have to be on waitlists for this important and life-saving procedure. That is why I have and continue to take steps to reduce waitlists and increase access to these vital services.”

But there is still a wait at other hospitals in the province.

On Wednesday Francis and her husband met with the President of Cancer Care Ontario. She says she feels like her ideas and concerns were heard. And while there has been some progress since her daughters death, she wants to make it clear that people are still dying waiting for treatment.