N.S. women with chronic illnesses say court decision, premier's promise could change lives
CBC
Following a groundbreaking court decision and an about-face from the premier, two Nova Scotia women with chronic health conditions are still processing how their lives — and potentially thousands of others — could soon change.
Crystal Ellingsen and Jennifer Brady filed a joint judicial review against the Nova Scotia Department of Health in July 2022 after repeated denials of their applications to access out-of-province care. Ellingsen has lipedema, a condition that causes tissue buildup in her arms and legs. Brady suffers from lymphedema, which leads to a painful accumulation of fluid in her legs.
Last Friday, a judge said both women were "treated in a procedurally unfair manner" and the decisions made by the province to deny their care were "unreasonable."
Immediately following the decision's release, Premier Tim Houston said the government "got it wrong" and apologized to Brady and Ellingsen.
Houston promised to reimburse their expenses and legal fees, and pay for Brady's future treatment. He also asked Nova Scotia's auditor general to conduct a review of both cases as well as the entire out-of-province claims process.
WATCH | N.S. judge sides with woman denied out-of-province care for a treatable condition
Ellingsen said she's cautiously optimistic.
"It's one thing to say it. It's another thing to do it," she said.
The 45-year-old mother of three and teacher describes a long, painful road to get to this point. She remortgaged her house to pay more than $100,000 to have four lipedema reduction surgeries in Germany.
Ellingsen said it was either that or eventually being confined to a wheelchair.
"I was on disability and was quickly needing a walking aid and then of course it would be a wheelchair from there. I couldn't play with my kids. I could barely get up the stairs at night. It was horrible," said Ellingsen.
"The cost of getting surgery meant a better life and less complications and less stress on the Nova Scotia health-care system."
She said the surgeries have drastically improved her quality of life. However, due to the crushing debt, her family recently moved to North Carolina for her husband's job in order to pay their bills.
Now with the promise of reimbursement, Ellingsen said this is a "complete reset."
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