Kayden Kot: Saskatoon Child Denied Medical Funding by Sask Party Government

The Sask Party Government isn’t going to help 4 year old Kayden Kot get the medical care he needs after a medical error caused temporary paralysis, and a brain injury.

Kayden Kot has has been diagnosed with severe protein and food allergies; he can only eat through a tube inserted into his stomach.

According to the GoFundMe page set up by the family, Kayden Kot started his treatment at the STAR Center in Denver, the Anat Baniel Method facility in California and by a pediatric neurologist and nutrition/dietician specialist in NYC.

Initially there was no treatment for Kot in the province, but the family has been able to access some care from the Saskatoon Health Region.

“Since July they are very accommodating and we are trying to exhaust all of their services,” said mom, Sylvie Fortier-Kot.

According to Fortier-Kot, they have reached a critical juncture in the care of their son and need to return to the STAR Centre to receive intensive treatment. They are financially depleted after three-and-a-half-years and 12 medical trips, she said.

After the government rejected their funding request, the family filed an appeal. That has been rejected as well.

When it comes to deciding who gets financial support for out-of-province medical care, the Ministry of Health said they look to see if the services being accessed are available in Saskatchewan.

“If services are available we need to ensure that the services that are offered have been accessed and have ben tried to the greatest extent possible,” said health minister Dustin Duncan.

According to Fortier-Kot they were rejected because they have not exhausted all the possibilities.

In the meantime, the family has undertaken a fundraising effort to get to Denver. A benefit is planned at Holy Family Cathedral Hall on Jan. 23 for Kayden.

Agencies/Canadajournal