Thread by @globeandmail

Western Canada has become the epicentre of COVID-19′s fourth wave – leaving many people's surgeries in limbo.

Here are some whose medical care has been put on hold and what they stand to lose.

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Helen Dickson, 1, Regina:

Helen was expected to undergo surgery this month to help correct her crossed eyes. Her family was told the surgery would be delayed because of the pandemic.

“I’m incredibly angry. I stay up at night worrying about her future."

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Christopher Brown, 35, Calgary:

Christopher Brown's surgery for brain cancer was scheduled for September, but then Alberta's hospitals needed to clear ICU space for COVID-19 patients.

“Tomorrow seems like a long way off."

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Akeema Smith, 21, Edmonton:

Akeema Smith was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. So far, she has had only one of the three or four operations she needs. The second surgery is delayed again.

“I feel like I can’t move on from this chapter."

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Jakob Lafferty, 17, Tuktoyaktuk, NWT:

Jakob is waiting for a surgery appointment in Edmonton to treat a sports injury.

“Our culture here involves a lot of hunting and travelling on the land... and he’s not comfortable doing now because of the pain.”

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Drew Moore, 66, Delta, B.C.:

Drew Moore was supposed to undergo the first of several joint-replacement surgeries in August. The procedure was postponed twice.

“It was pretty angering."

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Read all the stories here:
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