Had it not been for the intervention of conservative talk radio host Glenn Beck, the start of the new year might have been very different and very difficult for Canadian Jolene Van Alstyne.
In fact, if he hadn’t brought her situation into the spotlight, Van Alstyne might have died this week.
The 45-year-old Saskatchewan native has been suffering for nearly a decade from a rare but treatable parathyroid disease that causes severe bone pain, nausea and vomiting.
When the story first gained international attention, it was reported that Van Alstyne needed special surgery. But Saskatchewan currently doesn’t have the surgeons to perform the necessary surgery. Due to Canada’s health care system, Van Alstyne would need to be referred to a doctor outside the province, but to get a referral he would first have to meet with an endocrinologist in Saskatchewan, none of whom were reportedly willing to accept new patient appointments.
Listen to the latest episode of “Quick Start” 👇
Van Alstyne visited the state Capitol last November and begged for help with his case. But rather than eliminate red tape, government officials reportedly proposed the country’s controversial euthanasia program, MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying).
At a loss, she agreed. Van Alstine was scheduled to meet with her MAiD provider on January 7 of this year.
When Beck heard Van Alstyne’s story, he jumped on board. In an interview with CBN News, he said: “How do you let someone die? How do Canadians view this? Why don’t they stand up and say, ‘That’s unacceptable. She doesn’t have to die.'”
Beck was so touched by her situation that he offered to fund Van Alstyne’s treatment, including her transportation to the United States and any medical interventions necessary for her recovery.
This overwhelming act of kindness breathed new life into Van Alstyne and gave her new energy to continue her fight for healing — instead of suing the government for physician-assisted suicide, a path she never wanted to take.
“Yes, today was the day they gave me,” she told the Toronto Sun on Wednesday, before adding, “I’m a Roman Catholic. Suicide is a sin, but I couldn’t bear the pain and the nausea and the vomiting and the fever 24/7.”
Beck’s offer to fly Van Alstyne to Florida still stands, but the Sun reports that surgeons in Tampa, Saskatchewan and Ontario are discussing what the best next steps are in her case.
The doctors worked together to develop a strategy for Van Alstyne.
“I take a lot of calcium and vitamin D,” she said. “This was recommended by a specialist in Toronto, and a surgeon in Florida also agreed that this should be tried first.”
She explained that her doctor told her, “If the parathyroid levels come down to below normal, I don’t need another surgery. I need an endocrinologist who can handle patients who need to monitor their calcium, vitamin D, and magnesium levels and make adjustments as needed.”
But she added: “If that doesn’t bring my levels down, then there’s still another gland that’s overactive somewhere inside me.”
According to The Sun, Beck and Van Alstyne remain in touch.
CBN News has asked Beck for a statement. This story will be updated if he provides comment.
As the number of voices facing censorship from big tech companies continues to grow, sign up for FaithWire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app developed by our parent company to get the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.
