Beachburg, Ont. mother in need of $100K to afford life-saving cancer surgery
A young mother in the Ottawa Valley is hoping to raise $100,000 in order to afford life-saving cancer surgery in the United States.
In 2019, 29-year-old Paige Atherton was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of appendix cancer. It has recently turned into Stage 4 cancer.
Without treatment, her doctors have given her just six months left to live, but also say they cannot perform surgery.
"My surgeons in Toronto, they said that the disease was too progressed and they didn't feel safe continuing with the surgery," Atherton told CTV News Ottawa.
"They didn't feel that another surgeon in Canada would be willing to take on the case because of its complexity. It's been frustrating for me to say the least, because the surgery is available but the surgeons don't feel safe doing it."
Not giving up the fight, the mother of three young boys reached out to specialty surgeons in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
"They said that they think they can help, they can do something for me."
But the cost of the surgery is $100,000. Atherton says insurance will not cover the out of country expense, and her doctors are not confident in OHIP coverage, but she plans to apply anyways.
"It's scary because I'm definitely not somebody who has that in my back pocket," Atherton said.
Paige Atherton with her husband and three children. (Supplied)
A GoFundMe was started by Atherton's mother on Nov. 2 and has already raised more than $36,000.
On Saturday, a community fundraiser was held by Atherton's family to continue the push to $100,000.
"The opportunity is out there, we just need to give her a chance to have that," said Kirk Stewart, Atherton's uncle.
"Just trying to get whatever funds we could to get her the surgery," added her aunt Alicia Stewart. "Whether it's an extra year with her boys or 10 years with her boys."
Ticket sales, door prizes, and a silent auction all contributed to the event's fundraising total on Saturday. Kirk praised the Ottawa Valley's generosity, saying countless businesses throughout Renfrew County contributed.
"I don't think we're going to quite reach [the fundraising goal]," Stewart said for Saturday's event. "I'd love to say we would, but maybe with some more support. We're quite aware of the reality and it's just about hope."
For Atherton, a total of $100,000 is daunting, but is literally life or death for the 29-year-old.
Despite the adversity, she and her family still share hope.
"They're fairly optimistic that we will get a surgery date," says Atherton. "They were hoping for late winter, early spring."
Atherton says if she cannot receive the life saving surgery, any money received through fundraising will support her husband and three sons in her passing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Manitoba mom praises quick-thinking fire department for freeing daughter stuck in playground equipment
A Manitoba mother is praising firefighters for their quick work in helping her daughter who got stuck at a playground in Lorette, Man.