Family of cystic fibrosis patient Jennifer Crouse struggles to cover costs

As a Lunenburg County single mother's health deteriorates from cystic fibrosis, her family is racing to raise enough money to send the 31-year-old to Toronto to live while awaiting a double-lung transplant. 

Jennifer Crouse of Pinehurst, N.S., was approved for the transplant on Dec. 18, but as the clock ticks her condition worsens, shortening the window of opportunity for the operation once a pair of lungs is found.

Her health is declining faster than money is coming in, says Jennifer Crouse's mother, Vichi Crouse. Both need enough to cover moving, living and medical costs in time for her first appointment in Toronto on April 5. 

"Anxious. Stress. You name it — we're there," she said. "We can't wait. I'm panicked that we're going to Toronto [without] the funds we thought we would have to make sure that we thought we could last out a year." 

'We have to go'

The family is about $11,000 short of its $20,000 goal to cover the first year of costs.

"But with Jenn's health the way it is, we have to go," Vichi Crouse said. 

The Nova Scotia government does provide a relief of $1,500 per month for out-of-pocket expenses. But Vichi Crouse says they're told it could take three months from the day they move in for the relief to become available.

As of March 1, the family has enough to pay for travel, initial medications costing $5,000, as well as first and last month's rent. But they don't have enough to make it until the provincial subsidy begins.

"We're leaving it in the hands of everybody at home here and everyone else to continue fundraising while we're gone. For Jenn's health, we can't keep putting it off," Vichi Crouse said. 

Online crowdfunding stalls

Fundraising events have become more frequent to supplement a stalled online crowdfunding campaign. 

Rev. Svante Olson met the family at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in West Northfield. Having a background in communications, Olson took on the role of raising awareness in Halifax and the Lutheran community. 

"We are very much impressed with the quiet courage and devotion that the family members have to each other. And very much impressed with this 31-year-old single mother," Olson said. "They're facing this situation with such grace."

Olson says community members in and outside the church's congregation are rallying behind the family. A music benefit Sunday night hosted at Northfield District Fire Hall was a good show support, he says.  

"It was standing room only at the end." 

'Complete faith' in support at home

Vichi Crouse says the family chooses to focus on fundraising and moving forward instead of dwelling on whether Jennifer Crouse's health will hold.

"We don't have time to think about it. We have so much on the go, we have to get geared up," she said. "When we stop and think about going, we all cry.

"I have complete faith in everyone at home and everyone around that have been doing things for us."