“They’ll pay for me to die, but they won’t give me the money to live.”

Those are the words of Centre Wellington resident Lisa McColeman, a wife, mother, grandmother, and retired Ontario teacher living with hypophosphatasia (HPP), a rare genetic bone disease that causes debilitating fractures, chronic pain, and declining mobility.

There is a Health Canada-approved treatment for her condition, which her medical specialist wants her to take, but Lisa is unable to access it due to Ontario’s public funding criteria. Without it, she is seriously weighing medical assistance in dying.

As her condition continues to worsen, Lisa is appealing to Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones for a chance to remain independent, spend time with her grandchildren, and live her life without the constant fear of her next fracture.

Lisa recently shared her story with the Wellington Advertiser which you can read here: https://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/do-i-not-have-value-centre-wellington-woman-pleads-for-access-to-rare-disease-drug/

You can lend your voice to support Lisa by contacting Premier Doug Ford premier@ontario.ca and Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones sylvia.jones@pc.ola.org.