A Nova Scotia woman is anxiously awaiting the chance to head to Toronto to undergo a double-lung transplant, but government funding is limited, and she is struggling to come up with the cash needed for the trip.
The 31-year-old single mother lives with cystic fibrosis and has already been admitted to the hospital twice this year.
“My lung function is down to 19 per cent,” says Jennifer Crouse, who lives in Lunenburg.
“It could be up to two years, they tell me, before I could get a donor to have the transplant, and then they said I could get the first call. I could be all ready for surgery, and they may not be a match.”
Crouse qualified for a double lung transplant a few months ago, but she says money is holding her back.
Once Crouse, her mother and her daughter arrive in Toronto, they will receive $1,500 a month from the provincial government. Crouse says she is grateful for the assistance, but that it’s barely enough to cover monthly rent in Toronto, let alone other expenses.
“Travelling back and forth to the hospital, meals, different things like that.”
Her family has started a GoFundMe page with the hopes of raising $20,000. As of Thursday morning, just under $700 had been raised online. Roughly $4,000 has been raised in total, through other fundraisers.
“A vibrant young lady with a beautiful daughter and a loving family, who’s been very courageous for 31 years and needs a bit of help,” says Rev. Svante Olson, who met Crouse last month and is now helping her on her journey.
Crouse says her goal is to get to Toronto by the end of March, and every day is a step closer in the right direction.
“I can’t wait to do things with my daughter, to take her places, and do things that I can’t now.”
Meanwhile, she says she is thankful for the support from her friend, family and community.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Suzette Belliveau
