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Help Suzanne Aucoin
Jan. 31, 2007 - The St. Catharines Standard
St. Catharines Standard (ON)
Front, Wednesday, January 31, 2007, p. A1
Supporters applaud decision
MONIQUE BEECH
Based on the emotion in his voice, you'd swear this was Al Filer's victory.
You'd think it was his story of going up against the province, fighting for
his right to life-saving drugs and winning.
But this is Suzanne Aucoin's win. The story of a 36-year-old Port Dalhousie
woman's long, slow struggle against the health-care system to recoup
thousands of dollars she spent on colorectal cancer treatments in Ontario
and New York state.
On Tuesday, Aucoin received word from the Ministry of Health that she's
finally getting her hard-fought due thanks to a recommendation by Ontario
Ombudsman Andre Marin.
With the province vowing to review out-of-country health coverage, Aucoin
opened the door to others facing similar struggles.
On Tuesday, Aucoin, who was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer three years
ago, won.
But so did Filer and dozens of other Aucoin supporters who for months wrote
countless letters to politicians, helped raise money for her expensive
treatments and legal fees and offered a constant hand to grasp.
Aucoin's positivity, persistence and strength is inspiring, said Filer, a
Niagara Falls businessman who heard of Aucoin's plight two years ago and
helped her fundraise for drugs the province refused to pay for.
"It became about more than Suzanne. I think that's the whole thing," said
Filer, his voice wavering.
"In other words, it wasn't all about her, somebody trying to fight for her
life, it was somebody who saw an injustice in the system. She took the
illness that she had and decided to make a major change."
Along the way, members of Living Life Large or the L3 team, a fundraising
committee Aucoin founded more than two years ago, helped her make that
change.
This week, the friends she met cycling and working out at White Oaks were
celebrating the hard work organizing countless spin-a-thons, dances and
volleyball fundraisers.
"I couldn't be happier for her knowing that she doesn't have to fight ... to
get the health care that she needs," said Carrie Morris, a friend of six
years.
"I'm just so thrilled for her," Morris said, pausing, "that she doesn't have
to go through this anymore."
Finding out Aucoin's financial fight was over seemed surreal for friend Gary
Bellhouse.
It was hard to believe, that after years of helping raise money for his
friend's cancer drugs, somebody in government finally listened, he said.
"It's Suzanne that's been really foraging her own way and taking control and
looking for any avenue, and every avenue, that might help," said Bellhouse,
a Wainfleet resident and L3 committee member.
Aucoin's journey touched Rita Smith, a St. Catharines resident who read her
ongoing story in The Standard and wrote several letters to politicians on
the sick woman's behalf.
In Smith's view, it took too long for Aucoin's journey to end.
"I think it's fantastic for Suzanne," said Smith, a former Hospice Niagara
volunteer.
"I think it's been what she's been fighting for. I think she deserves it.
But I don't think she should have had to go through all that she did. I
don't think anybody in that situation should."
His voice clouding with emotion, Filer said Aucoin's triumph should serve as
an inspiration to others.
Because of Aucoin, people who need life-saving drugs or treatments not
available in Ontario have hope.
"Think about if you were in the same position. Here one day you didn't have
the funds to treat yourself for an incurable disease, and now, because of
(Aucoin), the funding is going to be there to possibly save your life."
mbeech@stcatharinesstandard.ca
St. Catharines Standard (ON)
Front, Wednesday, January 31, 2007, p. A1
Supporters applaud decision
MONIQUE BEECH
Based on the emotion in his voice, you'd swear this was Al Filer's victory.
You'd think it was his story of going up against the province, fighting for
his right to life-saving drugs and winning.
But this is Suzanne Aucoin's win. The story of a 36-year-old Port Dalhousie
woman's long, slow struggle against the health-care system to recoup
thousands of dollars she spent on colorectal cancer treatments in Ontario
and New York state.
On Tuesday, Aucoin received word from the Ministry of Health that she's
finally getting her hard-fought due thanks to a recommendation by Ontario
Ombudsman Andre Marin.
With the province vowing to review out-of-country health coverage, Aucoin
opened the door to others facing similar struggles.
On Tuesday, Aucoin, who was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer three years
ago, won.
But so did Filer and dozens of other Aucoin supporters who for months wrote
countless letters to politicians, helped raise money for her expensive
treatments and legal fees and offered a constant hand to grasp.
Aucoin's positivity, persistence and strength is inspiring, said Filer, a
Niagara Falls businessman who heard of Aucoin's plight two years ago and
helped her fundraise for drugs the province refused to pay for.
"It became about more than Suzanne. I think that's the whole thing," said
Filer, his voice wavering.
"In other words, it wasn't all about her, somebody trying to fight for her
life, it was somebody who saw an injustice in the system. She took the
illness that she had and decided to make a major change."
Along the way, members of Living Life Large or the L3 team, a fundraising
committee Aucoin founded more than two years ago, helped her make that
change.
This week, the friends she met cycling and working out at White Oaks were
celebrating the hard work organizing countless spin-a-thons, dances and
volleyball fundraisers.
"I couldn't be happier for her knowing that she doesn't have to fight ... to
get the health care that she needs," said Carrie Morris, a friend of six
years.
"I'm just so thrilled for her," Morris said, pausing, "that she doesn't have
to go through this anymore."
Finding out Aucoin's financial fight was over seemed surreal for friend Gary
Bellhouse.
It was hard to believe, that after years of helping raise money for his
friend's cancer drugs, somebody in government finally listened, he said.
"It's Suzanne that's been really foraging her own way and taking control and
looking for any avenue, and every avenue, that might help," said Bellhouse,
a Wainfleet resident and L3 committee member.
Aucoin's journey touched Rita Smith, a St. Catharines resident who read her
ongoing story in The Standard and wrote several letters to politicians on
the sick woman's behalf.
In Smith's view, it took too long for Aucoin's journey to end.
"I think it's fantastic for Suzanne," said Smith, a former Hospice Niagara
volunteer.
"I think it's been what she's been fighting for. I think she deserves it.
But I don't think she should have had to go through all that she did. I
don't think anybody in that situation should."
His voice clouding with emotion, Filer said Aucoin's triumph should serve as
an inspiration to others.
Because of Aucoin, people who need life-saving drugs or treatments not
available in Ontario have hope.
"Think about if you were in the same position. Here one day you didn't have
the funds to treat yourself for an incurable disease, and now, because of
(Aucoin), the funding is going to be there to possibly save your life."
mbeech@stcatharinesstandard.ca