Lisa's Story
Lisa Nancarrow is a single 34-year old public servant who's life, up until two years ago, was probably pretty much the same as anyone else her age who lives in Ottawa and grew up in the 80's and 90's.
During her senior year in high school a routine medical check-up would change her life forever. Lisa spent several days in the hospital in an attempt to diagnose a lump found near her stomach. After many tests and surgery, it was finally diagnosed as neurofibromatosis. Non-cancerous, Lisa was told that if more tumours grew, they would simply operate and remove them.
With no symptoms and eager to get on with her life, Lisa completed her Commerce degree and later her MBA, both at Carleton University. Lisa currently works for the federal government at the Canada Border Services Agency.
Two years ago, seemingly out of nowhere, symptoms of her condition re-appeared. The tumours have now grown to such a level near her oesophagus that eating is almost impossible. Tumours are pushing her stomach out of its place and they are so numerous that surgery and radiation are no longer an option. In the last year, Lisa has visited countless doctors and specialists in Ottawa, Toronto and even Maryland. Everyone has said nothing more could be done. Lisa was devastated when she was referred to a palliative care physician.
No Support from OHIP
Unwilling to accept that answer, Lisa began her own search for possible treatment options that would help prolong her life. In early 2009 she came across a clinical trial for adults with neurofibromatosis that was being conducted at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She applied and was accepted into the trial. She was told that OHIP would cover the cost, since a similar treatment was not available in Canada.
Just weeks before she was to begin the treatment regime, she was told that OHIP had rejected her claim, citing the treatment as "experimental." Naturally, Lisa was devastated. With the cost of the clinical trial expected to be over $50,000, it now falls to Lisa alone to come up with the money to continue the promising treatment.
The reason her story is important is that it is a health care situation that could happen to any one of us. As her friends and family, we are joining together to help Lisa through this difficult time, both emotionally and also to help raise money to ensure Lisa can continue her treatment.