Good morning.
I am pleased to be here today to tell you my story. I hope it encourages you to pass Bill C-44 and make some much needed changes to the EI Act.
I gave birth to my second son, Nolan, on March 9, 2010. I had a very uncomfortable pregnancy, as I felt very ill and tired, but doctors assured me this was normal for a second pregnancy. In my 36th week of pregnancy it was determined that the baby's growth had slowed or stopped and they decided to induce me early.
Within an hour of giving birth to my healthy baby, the doctors detected a mass in my abdomen. After an MRI it was determined that I had a large tumour that was suspected, and later confirmed, to be from my adrenal gland. I had surgery seven weeks later and the tumour was successfully removed, along with my right kidney and gall bladder. It appeared the tumour hadn't spread. It was confirmed that this tumour was adrenal cortical carcinoma, that is, cancer of the cortex of the adrenal gland. That is a very rare and very aggressive form of cancer.
Although it was hoped that all the cancer had been removed, it was suggested that I take daily chemotherapy, ideally for five years. I started taking daily chemotherapy—it was a drug called mitotane—on July 1, 2010, and I took it until July 26, 2011, when I stopped because the side effects of the drug were greatly affecting and greatly reducing my quality of life. This chemotherapy drug builds up and stores in the fatty tissue of the body, so the side effects have remained, but they're thankfully wearing off as time passes.
During the 16 months when I gave birth, had surgery, and took chemotherapy, I wasn't able to look after myself, my children, and my home without a great deal of help from my husband, my family, and hired help. Two and a half years have passed since this all began and I have still not returned to work because of the lingering side effects of the chemotherapy.
I don't usually tell this story to this many people.
I started dealing with Service Canada before my surgery in 2010 and I am still dealing with them. I assumed it would be an easy conversion from maternity benefits to sick benefits, but I was shocked when I was told from the beginning that I wouldn't get sick benefits. I have spent many hours talking to people about this. I appealed the denial of the sick benefits to the board of referees—and I have done this all while I was sick.
In my case, I did not fall ill after the start of my maternity leave. I was very ill prior to giving birth and prior to the start of my maternity leave. My condition was finally diagnosed immediately after giving birth and after the start of my maternity leave.
My fight for additional benefits was more about the time I lost with my sons than the financial penalty of not getting sick benefits.
An additional 15 weeks of benefits would have been a welcome improvement; however, it wouldn't have seen me through the chemotherapy. To say this was a difficult, stressful, and devastating period is a gross understatement. I don't think that anyone should have to fight for sick benefits when they need it the most.
Changing the legislation to allow stacking EI benefits would be extremely beneficial for those who are sick when on special benefits. It would give a person additional time to hopefully improve, health-wise, so they don't have to return to work sick, or give them more time to make major life decisions.
l'm sure there are more mothers who are facing the same situation, and many of those need the financial benefit and recovery time of sick benefits. I am very happy to see there are proposed changes to the existing system.
Thank you.