A family with Prince George roots is struggling after a sudden turn of tragic events.
On May 14 Gloria St. John, who now lives in Alaska, travelled to Prince George to visit family and friends before the birth of her baby. Gloria was a former resident of Prince George, where she attended the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) before moving to the United States.
Gloria was eight months pregnant and had planned on travelling back to Alaska to deliver her baby. But during her baby shower on Friday, May 24, Gloria began to feel sick and shortly after was admitted to the emergency room at UHNBC where she was diagnosed with preeclampsia.
That’s a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure.
In a post on a GoFundMe campaign, Gloria’s sister Jennifer St. John details the family’s struggle.
“Over the next few days they tried to stabilize her blood pressure but things took a turn for the worst and on Monday, May 27, she had to have an emergency c-section,” writes Jennifer.
“My nephew Jack Wolf was born at 4:30 p.m. weighing 4lbs 13oz but he was not well. And to make matters worse, her husband Joshua, was in the middle of his flight to Prince George when their son was born.”
She says that evening the baby was airlifted to B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver followed by Gloria the next morning. However, Jennifer says the specialists were not able to save Jack Wolf and he was taken off life support on May 28.
“We were all devastated by the news of his passing and never could have expected that the situation would soon become worse,” writes Jennifer, adding that Gloria’s condition began to worsen and she was transferred to St. Paul’s hospital where she is currently in critical condition.
Jennifer says the family has also been informed that her Medical Services Plan (MSP) won’t cover the cost of Gloria or Jack Wolf’s care, as Gloria has been residing in the United States for the past eight years.
“Unfortunately, her health insurance in the United States will also not cover any of the care she received in Canada,” writes Jennifer, adding that the GoFundMe pages is intended to help cover the cost of the family’s medical care.
“Gloria and her husband Josh do not need this financial burden on top of everything they have already been through. The medical bills are astronomical and are continuing to grow.”
The GoFundMe campaign has since raised more than $25,000 of its $100,000 goal.
If you wish to contribute to the campaign, you can donate here.
