11 OAKVILLE BEAVER · Wednesday, March 4, 2009 Health care is not free Continued from page 10 ulous health care system here in Canada, and indeed it does have many great attributes. But the `universal' principle is a fair bit misleading. I was a Prairie kid in grade school when the foundation of this present system was having its laborious birth in Saskatchewan. I remember from a kid's mind, how my mother, with nine kids, listened and openly hoped and cheered for something in health care that would ease her burden in some meaningful way," said Smith. "Now we are faced with an interesting irony: when we are older, and most vulnerable to disease and its costs, when we were led to believe that we will be `looked after,' we often face a situation where we are left to our own means. We can find ourselves in situations where financially and emotionally we face harder times than when we were younger and had more options, not to mention strength and resolve," said Smith. "Until Revlimid is approved by the Ontario Health authorities, it will stand as a glaring example of where the term `universal' health care for Canadians is plainly not true," said Smith. Many storefront displays in downtown Oakville are yellow, celebrating the Zonta Club of Oakville's third annual Paint the Town Yellow event running now until Sunday, March 8. "Zonta Oakville is proud to announce that over 50 businesses are Painting the Town Yellow," said Diane Daly, president of the In Oakville Zonta paints downtown yellow our hospital is job one because healthy people are the backbone of a healthy community. Zonta Club of Oakville. "Every year this event gets bigger and better, and the true significance of this increase in participation says it all...we do not support violence and abuse against women," said Daly. "Zonta Oakville will make an official announcement of the 2009 winners on International Women's Day on March 8. International Women's Days brings together people around the world -- encouraging all women to realize their passions, in the spirit of equality with access to justice and education to realize their goals. For more information, visit www.zontaoakville.com. That sentiment is echoed by London resident, Carolyn Henry, 64. Henry, who co-leads a multiple myeloma support group (only the third to be established in Canada), has had multiple myeloma for nine years. After a successful stem cell transplant, Henry was cancer free for several years. She currently takes Revlimid. "It's called a miracle drug," she said. In pill form, it makes her life relatively normal and means she doesn't have to make weekly trips to the local cancer centre for injections or other treatments. Henry, whose daughter was 12 when she was first diagnosed, was involved in the clinical trial of the drug prior to its approval by Health Canada. As such, she is among those for whom use was extended until the end of March. "Did Merv tell you how much it costs? Are you ready? It's $9,800 for a 21-day supply," Henry told The Beaver in an interview from her London home. She, like Smith, is part of the loose group of multiple myeloma patients who are trying to bring public awareness and MPP support for public funding of Revlimid. Henry is lucky. Her health plan covers some of the cost and the drug company has picked up the balance by virtue of her clinical trial participation. Henry doesn't know what's going to happen after this month. She explains that it is feared the Joint Oncology Review Board will turn down public funding for Revlimid as it did for MDS (myelodysplastic syndromes) patients -- a decision that was then overturned by Ontario's assistant deputy minister of health. "This drug is like those in a lot of other diseases. You think our health care system is free and it's not and it can be a rude awakening," said Smith. "As one of those who was stunned to receive the multiple myeloma diagnosis at 61 years of age, and thinking seriously about retirement, I not only hope for a Revlimid success, and it's promise for a few more years, but also the same for those few hundred fellow sufferers across this province," said Smith. Multiple Myeloma Canada is about to launch a new awareness campaign called Time to Live. For more information or to get involved in the Ontario advocacy effort, visit www.myelomacanada.ca. Let your voice be heard sign the petition at www.chudleighmpp.com Ted Chudleigh MPP Halton 905-878-1729 On your side