More than a decade ago, Sault resident Lori Veldt received a devastating diagnosis - primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), a disease which slowly destroys the liver’s bile ducts, causing the body’s toxin levels to increase.
Unfortunately, Veldt didn’t respond to medication and the build up of harmful substances in her liver has caused major scarring, leading to stage 4 cirrhosis.
The liver disease put a tremendous amount of strain on her circulatory system, causing her to experience a major bleed last year that nearly ended her life.
“My liver is not going to get better, so it’s a matter of me waiting until the appropriate time to be listed for a liver transplant,” Veldt told SooToday. “They’ve told me that I will be needing a liver transplant in order to survive.”
She also suffers from lupus, a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that attacks the organs and joints, and doctors recently discovered enlarged lymph nodes in her chest and abdomen.
To test for liver cancer, Veldt is scheduled for biopsy later this month.
All of these complex conditions have left Veldt with severe exhaustion and joint pain, rendering her unable to work.
On the recommendation of one of her Toronto doctors and to be near better specialized care, Veldt relocated from Sault Ste. Marie to London, Ontario last August.
Her monthly ODSP payment is little more than her rent, leaving her with very little to cover her basic living expenses, medication costs, and doctor-recommended (and very expensive) diet.
“I have no support system [in London], so I can’t even go home. I left everybody to come here, and now I can’t afford to go home. It’s been very tough,” she said, “and I’ve kind of run into a lot of brick walls as far as getting help.”
Veldt has taken to GoFundMe to seek help as she awaits a liver transplant.
Those wishing to provide Veldt with financial assistance is encouraged to visit her GoFundMe page in order to make a contribution.
To date, she has raised $290 of the $5,000 she estimates she’ll need before she’s on the road to recovery.