Relocate for treatment, or give up? Out-of-pocket transplant costs hit hard for B.C. resident outside Metro
Lori Ruggles was overjoyed when she found out she was on the list for a new liver. But getting the life-saving treatment comes with a price tag that the Prince George woman and her family are struggling to pay.
Ruggles, a 65-year-old grandmother, has end-stage liver disease due to chemotherapy treatment for systemic scleroderma, an autoimmune disease.
In February, she received news she was on the active list, meaning she could get a new organ anytime if a donor becomes available, depending on medical need and compatibility.
“It’s a tremendous gift but it definitely comes at a cost,” said Ruggles. |