A Princeton woman in dire need of a double-lung transplant has met with Premier David Eby, advocating for residents outside of the lower mainland in desperate need of care. Christina Derksen-Unrau says she had to take herself off the transplant list after being asked to prove she could afford to relocate to Vancouver for post-surgery care. Jennifer Palma reports.
A double-lung transplant patient met with B.C. Premier David Eby in Victoria on Thursday to discuss challenges for transplant patients living in rural areas.
Christina Derksen-Unrau of Princeton and BC Rural Health Network’s executive director Paul Adams said patients who live in rural areas are forced to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for mandatory after-surgery care costs when they come to Vancouver to get an operation.
“From the premier today, we heard outstanding support. We had a very positive meeting, he appreciated being informed and has made a promise and commitment to work with us in finding a solution moving forward,” Adams said on Thursday.
“I think this is a huge difference and is a stepping stone to creating equity and access to health care for all residents of British Columbia.”
Earlier this month, Global News reported that Derksen-Unrau could not get her transplant surgery because she couldn’t afford the cost to stay in Vancouver for several months after the operation.
She said it was important to give Eby a first-hand account of what some transplant patients have to go through.
“The biggest challenge was having enough money to support myself, and my caregiver, for three to six months in Vancouver after transplant, which can be anywhere from $35,000 to $55,000,” she told Global News.
The latest health and medical news emailed to you every Sunday.
“My husband is the only income in our household (but) he is also my caregiver so he won’t be able to work.”
