Thunder Bay Mom Needs Medical help
THUNDER BAY – Mandy O’Connor is usually an outspoken advocate for people who need help. Right now friends of Mandy are rallying to help the Thunder Bay woman who is suffering from a rare conductive tissue disease.
Mandi O’Connor has 4 children and they sleep with her at the hospital most nights, they are praying that the Ontario Government will authorize a life-saving surgery that Mandi needs to save her life.
Mandi has been in the TBRHSC for 127 days so far.
Mandi’s friends have set up a GoFundme.com fund to help raise the much needed $150,000 that is required for her life saving surgery.
OHIP No Coverage
The surgery is covered by OHIP and is offered in Canada. However they will not do the surgery here. However, a mere 3 hours away in Duluth Minnesota the doctors and hospital have told Mandi they offer the surgery but, she would have to pay for the surgery herself.
Mandi has been in hospital over 4 months now with no indefinite release date as she requires 24/7 care at this point, her organs are being starved and are slowly shutting down.
Mandi’s friends have sent the premiere of Ontario Kathlyn Wynn a plea to please help cover this surgery as its the only way Mandi will ever be released from hospital.
Mandi has a rare connective tissue disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which makes operating on her very difficult due to fragile tissue. The rarity of my genetic disorder makes surgery dangerous.
Description of the disease: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of inherited disorders that affect your connective tissues — primarily your skin, joints and blood vessel walls. Connective tissue is a complex mixture of proteins and other substances that provides strength and elasticity to the underlying structures in your body.
People who have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome usually have overly flexible joints and stretchy, fragile skin. This can become a problem if you have a wound that requires stitches, because the skin often isn’t strong enough to hold them.
A more severe form of the disorder, called vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, can cause the walls of your blood vessels, intestines or uterus to rupture.
The surgery is Mandi’s only hope to be re-united with her 4 children.
