Winnipeg woman unable to receive dialysis treatment while visiting sick father in Saskatchewan

In Manitoba, there are more than 1,800 people who receive dialysis treatment – many of them having to visit a health centre several times a week.

Missing dialysis can lead to severe health problems, including fluid overload and high phosphorus and potassium levels. That can lead to heart problems and weakened bones.

But that’s the risk a Winnipeg woman is willing to take so she can see her sick father in Saskatchewan.

“I’m gonna travel. I just said I’m going and that’s that,” said Shauna Reimer. “I was under the impression that I would be able to get dialysis out there as well, so when I found out, I said I’m still going. I can’t, I’m not changing my plans.

“They told me there was no out-of-province patients at all. Because they don’t have the room.”

Reimer’s father George, who is in his late 70s, was diagnosed with bladder cancer three weeks ago, making her family trip to see her aging parents even more important — even though she’ll be missing two dialysis treatments in a row.

Reimer has been receiving dialysis treatment 2020, and currently goes to the Seven Oaks General Hospital three times a week — with a single treatment lasting some four hours. She’s only skipped one treatment before to visit her parents.

“You can’t miss too many treatments and stay alive, so it’s definite life or death. You have to be there,” she said.

Reimer says she weighed that risk versus missing out on spending the holidays with her parents and the rest of her family in Saskatchewan.

“It’s painful to find out that your dad’s sick,” she told CityNews. “He’s always been there.”

Reimer looked into having dialysis near her father’s, but was told there was no room to accommodate any visitors.

“I was born and raised there, and they won’t even look at me,” she said. “‘We don’t have any beds.’ I’m sorry, but I should be able to, it’s not like I’m asking for a lot. One treatment.

“It is very, very hurtful to the people that want to go travel and can’t. Just because you’re doing (dialysis treatments), shouldn’t mean I can’t travel. I should still be able to travel. I should still be able to go have good times, and I can’t.”

Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Health and its Health Authority says patients can request to have their care done temporarily, “assuming the location has capacity and can offer the level of care the patient requires.”

“If the site does not have capacity, this courtesy-based access may be unavailable,” they said in a statement. “The Saskatchewan Health Authority makes every effort to direct patients to a facility where capacity exists.”

Right now, it says Saskatoon is unable to take any dialysis patients from out of province due to scheduling and staff availability.

The Manitoba health minister’s office says it’s looking for ways to straighten partnership between provinces.

“Balancing your own health care needs when a loved one is sick can be challenging,” a spokesperson said. “We are always looking to improve health care in Manitoba and for all Canadians, and part of this work is learning from other provincial health ministers and looking for ways we can partner together to strengthen public health care.”

But for Reimer, it isn’t coming soon enough.

“I wanna be able to spend time with my family and with my dad,” she said.