79-year-old waiting for open-heart surgery in B.C. says health is deteriorating
A Vancouver senior says she was told by her doctor in November that she required open-heart surgery. Seven months later, she’s yet to receive a surgery date and says her condition is getting worse.
Heather Clarke, a retired health-care worker says her heart's mitral and tricuspid valves need to be replaced. And while she's been waiting for the procedure, she's noticed everyday tasks are getting more difficult.
“Walking up stairs in the house, I walk up, but at the top now I have to sort of pause, take some breaths,”
Around a year ago Clarke says she was very active, often completing high elevation, multi-kilometre hikes. Now, she says even a small stroll feels like a marathon.
“I’m going to get more and more limited in what I can do,” said the 79-year-old.
Clarke is one of many British Columbians anxiously waiting to go under the knife. The pandemic, staffing and funding issues have all contributed to a backlog of surgeries in the province, with some people waiting years for a trip to the operating bed.
“It’s really distressing, not having any idea when I might have a date,” said Clarke.
FRIENDS BECOME ADVOCATES
“Not being able to get essential surgery? Something is very desperately wrong,” said Alex Volkoff, a friend of Clarke who’s advocating on her behalf.
Volkoff says she’s fed up seeing her friend become weaker before her eyes, so she’s decided to raise awareness on the issue by staging demonstrations in front of St. Paul hospital in downtown Vancouver.
“When you watch a friend decline so dramatically over a period of time, and when they discover what the problem is and it can’t be fixed -- you get distressed,” said Volkoff.
She’s helped organize two rallies so far and says several strangers have shared their own stories about how waiting for surgery has impacted their own lives.
CTV News reached out to the health ministry for comment on this issue, but did not receive a response before deadline.
Meanwhile, Volkoff plans to continue fighting for her friend.
“We can’t let the situation deteriorate further than it already has.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
BREAKING London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.