A London, Ontario family has raised over $500,000 CAD through GoFundMe to fund complex spinal surgery in the United States after provincial health authorities denied funding for the procedure.
Sydney Gesualdi, 27, was diagnosed with cranio-cervical instability after being rear-ended at a red light in July 2023. The condition involves excessive movement between the skull and the top two vertebrae in the neck, causing her inability to walk, breathing difficulties, and numbness in her face and limbs, CBC reported.
After at least eight doctors in Canada declined to perform consultations or the necessary procedure, the family consulted a neurosurgeon in New York. The specialist recommended cranio-cervical fusion surgery to fuse her skull to her spine, carrying a cost exceeding $490,000 CAD.
Joe Gesualdi started a GoFundMe after the Ontario Ministry of Health denied Sydney’s application for full funding through its Out-of-Country Health Services program. Donors have continued sending funds past the $500,000 threshold to cover potential cost adjustments and additional expenses during their stay in the U.S.
The family is in touch with Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and is looking at a date in early 2027 for the operation. Once the date is finalized, the family will post the journey on social media to document it and show the public where their gifts have gone, Joe Gesualdi told CBC.
Walking to Queen’s Park
Alongside the fundraising campaign, Joe Gesualdi worked to raise awareness of the family’s struggle to access treatment in Ontario. In August, he set out on a six-week, 200-kilometre journey pushing Sydney’s empty wheelchair on foot from London to Queen’s Park, stopping to hand out flyers and share her story.
Earlier this week, Joe and Sydney met with Health Minister Sylvia Jones. While grateful for the opportunity, Joe Gesualdi said that the meeting primarily involved restating information already on the public record rather than discussing systemic fixes.
“We were disappointed to essentially enter the meeting and restate everything that is on the public record to them,” Joe Gesualdi told CBC. “Instead of talking about fixes and experiences with the system, we had the system and the way it works reflected back to us.”
The Ministry of Health stated on Friday that out-of-country funding approval requires a physician to submit a request on behalf of the patient. “Physicians are responsible for the coordination of health care for their patients,” wrote ministry spokesperson Lily Barnes. “This includes determining the urgency of their patients’ need for health services and referrals to other appropriate health care providers and facilities, including referrals outside of province or country.”
Reviewing Out-of-Country Funding
| Detail | Sourced Fact |
|---|---|
| Patient Diagnosis | Cranio-cervical instability following a July 2023 motor vehicle collision |
| Estimated Surgery Cost | More than $490,000 CAD at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York |
| Fundraising Total | Over $500,000 CAD raised via GoFundMe |
| Advocacy Walk | 200-kilometre journey from London to Queen’s Park in August |
Joe Gesualdi is calling for a review of the out-of-country funding program to improve accessibility for other Ontarians facing similar medical challenges. He contends that the process has grown too bureaucratic and relies on medical assumptions by career officials rather than broad professional opinions.
“The results speak for themselves,” Joe Gesualdi said. “It’s continuous denial after denial.”
