Seventeen-year-old Erika Crawford is back at home near Brantford, Ont. after flying to the U.S. for expensive, but possibly life-saving surgery.
Erika has an illness called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which weakened the connective tissue in her body and caused her to be in constant pain.
It progressed to the point where her spine was pressing on her brain and an artery, putting her at risk of having a stroke or becoming paralyzed.
But now that the surgery is done, Erika says she feels ‘amazing’ and is excited to be home.
“I’m moving, I’m not throwing up, I don’t have a headache, I have vision back in my eye…I was on the operating table just 10 days ago, and I don’t even feel like I had surgery.”
During the costly procedure, one of her ribs was removed and fused to her neck to help stabilize her spine.
Her parents have had to raise the money to pay for the surgery after the province decided against funding it, claiming it could be done in Ontario.
But they chose to work with a specialist in Maryland, after they say 28 doctors in Ontario misdiagnosed her condition.
And while only 35 similar surgeries have been performed in Ontario, the doctor who did Erika’s surgery has helped 200 patients.
Darren Crawford, Erika’s father, told CTV News before her surgery that the family felt let down by OHIP.
Their bills have now reached more than $90,000, but Erika’s parents say the support of neighbours, friends, co-workers and even strangers is what made the surgery possible.
Darren says the community has helped raise more than $70,000.
“They’ve done so much for us, whereas OHIP and the health care system really let us down…you pay taxes and you think your country’s behind you when you get sick…we just don’t want the next child to go through this.”
Her parents hope that the start of her successful recovery will send a message to others dealing with the same illness that there is still hope.
