London, Ont., family raises $500K for daughter's U.S. surgery after being denied funding

Résumé détaillé

A London, Ont., father and daughter who have been fundraising for a major surgery in the United States have now surpassed their goal and are moving ahead with a potentially…

A London, Ont., father and daughter who have been fundraising for a major surgery in the United States have now surpassed their goal and are moving ahead with a potentially life-changing procedure that no doctor in Canada would perform.

She was denied spinal consultations by at least eight doctors in Canada, leading the family to consult a neurosurgeon in New York, who recommended cranio-cervical fusion surgery to fuse her skull to her spine—a procedure costing more than $490,000 CAD.

"We're feeling incredibly grateful and a little bit in disbelief," said her father, Joe Gesualdi.

Sydney Gesualdi, now 27, was rear-ended at a red light in July 2023. Since then, she's lost the ability to walk, struggles to breathe and swallow, and experiences extreme fatigue, among other symptoms. (Submitted by Sydney Gesualdi)

Gesualdi started the GoFundMe after the Ontario Ministry of Health denied Sydney's application for full funding through its Out-of-Country Health Services program, leaving the family to raise the money themselves.

Even after reaching the fundraising goal, people have continued to send in donations, he said, adding that donors are sending money in case the cost changes, or to cover other costs while in the U.S.

Gesualdi said the family is currently in touch with Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and looking at a date in early 2027.

Once the date is finalized, the family will be posting the journey on social media to document it and "show the public where their gifts have gone," he said.

Along with the fundraising effort, Gesualdi has been working to raise awareness of Sydney's struggle to access treatment in Ontario.

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