The Cost of Life
I am a double lung transplant survivor and I live in Kelowna, B.C.
My journey started in December 2015 after I was no longer able to work. I
was advised that I must leave my job completely if I were to receive
compensation. I also had to relinquish my medical benefits. My husband is
self-employed and that meant from that point on, all expenses were on our
shoulders.
Every visit was approximately $500.00 which included gas, food and the
cheapest accommodation we could find. We were lucky enough to find the
Park Inn on Broadway which allowed a reduced rate for medical reasons.
We took advantage of this perfect location and cost for the next four
years. It started around $160 and moved to $225. I was on the waitlist until
May 2019. It was such a long wait that it was difficult to plan or prepare, it
was basically be ready. Unfortunately we found it to be the most expensive
time of year but we would never have said no.
We went in blind. We were asked at the initial interview if we could afford
$40,000.00 and while we knew that would mean driving up our credit card
and using what little savings we had, it seemed logical to stay alive. At that
point you don’t really know the ramifications. We didn’t realize that this
would mean four years of lost wages and never being able to work again.
We also did not anticipate some of the immediate costs. Finding a place to
stay for three months at a reasonable cost was very difficult. The clinic
provides you with an outdated list of places, none of which were available
when we were looking. In addition, when you finally get the call, you are
not in the position to start looking for somewhere to live and unless you
have a network of people to help, how can you? We managed to find a
place to accommodate both myself and the need for a 24/7 care aide.
There were cooking facilities but that isn’t the most practical. Many
medications were not covered and as soon as we were released from
hospital we were hit with a $4811.46 medication bill.
After keen negotiations, our housing was $6,000 per month. In the first
month we were required to go to the hospital twice a week and sometimes
everyday depending on IVIG treatments and the required rehab 3 times a
week. The parking was an average of $15 per day and the taxi $12 per ride
when needed. Food during the three months was an average of $75.00 a
day for two people, all while maintaining our home in Kelowna and trips
home to manage work related needs. Our estimated cost for the actual
four months for the transporting and accommodation were $35,000.00,
Return visits after the three months started at every two weeks, then three
weeks then a month. Bronchoscopies were required every three month the
first year. Coming from the interior required an overnight stay to get there
in time for the set 7:00 am blood test, X-rays and spirometry and another
day in the event of a procedure. In the winter it is difficult to drive home in
the late afternoon and often requires an extra day. The Telehealth was
initiated during Covid and while this does relieve some of the burden of
travel, often they require you to be in person at the clinic and definitely for
any procedures. Over the recovery period we have incurred $15,000.00.
As the cost of hotels increases and now with no availability for reasonable
short term housing, the visit costs are definitely increasing.
In summary, a transplant requires a financial investment prior to the
operation, after the operation for the required three months, and on going
as many patients, myself included have continual difficulties and need to
visit the clinic. Only a few of the routine tests can be performed in
Kelowna. We still have a worry of how to cope albeit a different one.
Respectfully submitted,
Victoria Podewils
