Powell River resident David Silvester is gratified by the community response to a Go Fund Me campaign established to help him seek vital medical treatment in Calgary.
Silvester, who is 38, was diagnosed in August 2020 with a fatal autoimmune disease called diffuse scleroderma, and after months of specialist appointments and trying different medications, his health has not improved. His doctors recommended he receive a stem cell transplant and the closest facility is in Calgary. The procedure is covered through BC health care but Silvester and his wife Jennifer will need to pay for additional living and travel expenses on their own.
Silvester’s sister Sarah Carrier started a Go Fund Me page to get financial support and within one week, the campaign exceeded its fundraising target of $20,000. As of March 25, the total stood at $27,072, with 205 people having donated.
Silvester and his wife are flying to Calgary on April 1. He said he is looking forward to having his treatment, getting it done and over with. They have to stay in the Alberta city for four months.
In terms of the community response to assisting him, Silvester said he and his wife were really pleased.
“We never imagined it would go up so fast,” said Silvester. “We are just so thankful for everybody being so generous and thinking of us. It’s amazing.”
Silvester said the treatment gives him new hope if it works. He said there are some cases where the treatment has made the disease revert.
“Every case is different, but in some cases, it stops the progression,” said Silvester. “In a lot of cases there’s hope of more years and a better life.”
As it stands now, Silvester is finding his disease debilitating.
“I’ve pretty much lost complete motion in my hands,” said Silvester. “It’s made my skin so tight I can’t bend my arms, knees or feet very much. It’s just pain all of the time.”
Silvester said when he goes to Calgary for the transplant, he starts off with radiation, they take his stem cells out, followed by chemotherapy.
“They kill everything and when they reintroduce the stem cells back into me I start from day zero,” said Silvester. “I have to stay 100 days to do a bunch of follow-up and check-ins every day. I’m admitted to the hospital for three weeks and I can’t see anybody. I’m just in there getting my treatments.”
He said the prospect of going to Calgary has given him hope for a better future.
“We are so grateful people have reached out,” said Silvester. “We can’t thank everybody enough. It was really heartwarming and it relieved a lot of stress. It’s great.”
Silvester and his wife have found a place to stay in Calgary and can pay expenses due to the generosity of the Go Fund Me donors.
Carrier said the campaign for her brother exceeded the fundraising target, mainly due to support from family, friends, and members of the community.
“It has been so wonderful to see so many different people from the community step up and support Dave,” said Carrier. “Whether it is childhood friends from our neighbourhood in Cranberry, or elementary and high school friends and their parents, or co-workers at the mill or previous workplaces, or other community contacts and friends – we are just so appreciative to the Powell River community for how much they care.”
The Go Fund Me page can be found at gofundme.com/f/help-david-silvester.
