Human Resources committee  Yes, you are absolutely right. Take my situation, for example. My employer covers two sessions of psychological counselling, and that's it. Quite frankly, I need a lot more than that. I need to vent, but I can't afford the treatment. A session costs $125, and my insurance covers only $20.

Human Resources committee  Yes.

Human Resources committee  The drugs are incredibly expensive. Sabrina gets Neupogen injections. Ten injections cost $2,000. It stimulates bone marrow. She has to have it. I am lucky I have insurance that covers 80% of the cost. I still have to pay out $400, which comes to $800 a month. It certainly adds up when your salary has dropped as well.

Human Resources committee  Do you believe your child needs the same love at 18 years old as they do at 16? I think they do. You can't compare the situations on the basis of age. No matter how old they are, children need their parents, not strangers. I can tell you that with my heart and soul.

Human Resources committee  I am on disability insurance through the hospital. But the hospital disputes my leave regularly. Every month, I have to go to the doctor to confirm my illness. He changes the diagnosis, because the hospital would deny my leave otherwise. He diagnoses me with situational depression.

Human Resources committee  Yes, it is hard even though the oncologist at CHEO—I work in Quebec—wrote me a letter to give my employer. When it concerns my daughter, my employer will not approve my leave. That is why the doctor had to change my diagnosis to situational depression. The hospital still gives me a hard time.

Human Resources committee  Are you a father?

Human Resources committee  I think it's a good idea to extend the benefit period to 52 weeks, given the time required for diagnosis, surgery, radiation treatment and chemotherapy. It is often necessary to stop chemotherapy because the child comes down with a fever, for example, and that means a longer treatment period.

Human Resources committee  Good morning. My name is Nathalie Roy. My 16-year-old daughter, Sabrina, has Hodgkin's disease. She has stage 4B cancer, the last stage. She was diagnosed in May of this year, so not that long ago. She has a younger sister who is 14. This is a trying time for our family. As a teenager, Sabrina has dealt with all kinds of stress and self-esteem issues.