Local woman forced to go to Vancouver specialist

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Debra Ergang, manager and owner of Blankets R Us, requires help with medical expenses due to serious medical issues that were allegedly not adequately addressed.

Rita Schonewille has organized a GoFundMe to help Ergang with travel costs as she has to fly to Vancouver for a procedure that includes around eight weeks of recovery.

According to the fundraising page, Ergang was misdiagnosed with severe abdominal pain in fall of 2020 and by February 2021, she required emergency surgery that resulted in a colostomy bag that she called her ‘Gucci bag.’

Ergang went back to work after the surgery.

“Well, first day back to work, full throttle. After 11 weeks of recovery from a surgery that really could have been avoided had our health care system not lacked intelligence,” Ergang said in a post.

This procedure was reversed in January 2022, and a resulting hernia was repaired.

Unfortunately, a massive infection has now invaded her body, a secondary hernia, and her body is rejecting the mesh from her first surgery.

Her health has been compromised for almost two years now, which affects her ability to run her business, meaning she has trouble paying all of the extra medical costs, said the post.

Schonewille says, “Debra is one of the biggest-hearted individuals we know, and she is always ready to help anyone who needs it.”

A friend, Connie Greyeyes, mentions in a post, “she has a heart of gold and has never thought twice about helping others. Now it’s her turn.”

If donators wish to contribute directly to Debra, her email for e-transfer is [email protected].