Sask. woman in need of lifesaving medication calls on provincial gov’t for more assistance

Morgan Buyaki has been suffering from a rare condition called eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) for the last 18 months.

The rare disease causes the loss of white blood cells, making it very difficult to breathe. On the bright side, there is a medication available called Nucala that can help the 23-year-old Buyaki treat her illness.

But it’s far too expensive, even after some help from the provincial government.

NDP Health Critic Vicki Mowat and Buyaki’s mother, April Mcivor, are calling on the provincial government to help fund the Nucala medication before it’s too late for Buyaki.

“She’s in need of some lifesaving medication,” Mowat explained.

“Without access to this medication, the outlook for Morgan is very bleak. There’s about a 25 per cent survival chance without access. With access, it’s closer to 90 per cent.”

Right now, the provincial government is covering funding for one-third of the medication costs. That’s currently covering one monthly dose of 100 milligrams.

Buyaki is required to take monthly doses totalling 300 mg to treat her disease. According to Mcivor, it costs roughly $3,000 for every 100 mg, which is an estimated $9,000 per month.

“We’re calling on the government today to expedite this decision, to move quickly to cover three doses for Morgan so that she can start feeling better,” Mcivor said Friday.

The family has no choice but to be creative to come up with the remaining $6,000 needed to fund Buyaki’s treatments.

They’ve even gone as far as trying to sell their home in order to come up with the necessary funding. On top of that, a GoFundMe page has been created for Buyaki and is just north of $15,000.

Mcivor says bothering people to donate money in today’s current state of affairs is the last thing she wants to be doing.

“It was really difficult for me personally to start the GoFundMe. I feel like in Canada now, every family is struggling from the cost of gas to groceries. Everything has went up so high,” Mcivor said.

“The reason for the GoFundMe is because as a parent … (I’m concerned) that the government will approve it too late.”

Mcivor is hoping the page can create six months’ worth of medication costs.

In the meantime, the family is continuing to appeal to the provincial government for additional funds.