Help a Family Fighting to Keep Their Medically Fragile Son Safe
We live in northern Canada, six hours from the nearest children’s hospital. Our son Skye was born with complex heart defects—a hole in his heart and constricted arteries—as well as Klinefelter syndrome. Without open heart surgery at five months old, he wouldn’t have survived.
I’m sharing our story because we’re in crisis, and I’ve run out of options.
My wife and I are both in recovery—I’m a recovering alcoholic, and we’ve both struggled with methamphetamine addiction. We’re fighting every day to stay clean and be the parents our six children need. Our kids range from 2 to 17 years old, and we’re a blended, mixed-race family doing our best in difficult circumstances.
My wife was born with FASD and requires assistance caring for our children. Our 17-year-old stepdaughter struggles with self-harm and cuts when she’s stressed. Our 9-year-old son has speech and learning impairments. And Skye, now a hyperactive toddler with a fragile heart, needs regular cardiology appointments we can no longer afford to get to.
Before Skye was born, I worked full time and supported my family. Since then, his monthly medical appointments have made steady employment nearly impossible. I’ve tried working night shifts to balance family responsibilities, going without sleep on work days. Exhaustion leads to poor performance, and understanding employers who once accommodated me have understandably moved on.
My low income put me behind on child support for my oldest child, and MEP (Maintenance Enforcement Program) has locked me out of government registries and taken my driver’s license. This has created a devastating cycle: without registry access, I can’t apply for Skye’s treaty status. Without his treaty status, we lost his Non-Insured Health Benefits when he turned two. And without transportation, getting him to appointments six hours away has become impossible.
We’ve already missed two cardiology appointments we couldn’t afford to get to. Skye is hyperactive, making the six-hour drive challenging even in a personal vehicle. Taking a bus isn’t an option—the stress and his heart condition make it unthinkable.
I’m currently retraining myself in digital skills so I can eventually work from home. With financial help, I could use the 20-30 hours a week I’d spend at night jobs to study instead, building a sustainable future for my family.
I’ve always been too proud to ask for help, but my children need me to put that pride aside. If you have even a dollar to spare, I would be deeply grateful. But please, only if it doesn’t take away from your own family’s needs.
I believe in paying it forward. Any help we receive now is help my family will provide to someone else when we’re able.
Please donate to paypal.me/shawnhinson141
I am forever humbled and grateful for any help.
Thank you for reading our story and considering helping us.