The mother of a 40-year-old Thunder Bay man who is living with a rare skin condition has received good news from a clinic in Russia.
Judy Holmes is Adrian Barca’s mom and says she just learned the clinic is sending the Phage treatments he needs to save his life.
“Russia said he will not be able to make it, he will not be able to make the trip, so they have agreed to send the treatment to us, which is something they don’t do, but they realize how sick he is and this is an option we will take,” Holmes explains.
Holmes went on to say, “they told me that he would not be able to make it, which I know, I was thinking that. It was hard to get to Toronto for specialist appointments. Now with the coronavirus, I’m worried even more because he has three infections plus a disease that makes him susceptible even more.”
The Thunder Bay woman says she is relieved by the exciting news the treatment will be sent to them.
“Financially, I don’t have to take a month off work, I don’t have to go to a foreign country all by myself. My worry is if he gets even sicker over there, then what? I can’t get travel insurance for him because he’s already sick,” Holmes says.
Barca’s mother says she is really thankful for the support she and her son have received through a GoFundMe page and several fundraising initiatives. Money raised through those will go towards paying for the special treatment that still hasn’t been approved by the Canadian medical system.
Barca came home from work with a sore back and sore knees in March of 2018. He discovered a small zit on his back and two days later the zit had turned into a large ulcer. Barca has been to several doctors and specialists but none of the Canadian antibiotics or pain medicine has helped curb the spread of the sores.
The 40-year-old man has been staying in the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital for 5 weeks and once the Phage treatment arrives he will move back home to his mother’s home for the treatment. Holmes says they are setting up home care and naturopath services to help with Adrian’s care.
The Phage treatment is made from samples of the three types of bacteria on Barca’s back and should arrive by the end of the month barring any issues at customs. Holmes adds Adrian will have to drink one of the solutions and the other will be swabbed on his back.
You can contribute to Barca’s GoFundMe account by clicking HERE.
