U.S. conservative commentator Glenn Beck offers help as Sask. woman's struggle to get surgery gains attention
CBC News (A)By Jeffery Tram
2025-12-10 5:00PM EST
The article predating this where she explains her consideration of MAID will be attached at the bottom.
Glenn Beck at an October 2024 rally for Donald Trump. The conservative U.S. commentator has said he would help arrange treatment in the United States for a Saskatchewan woman whose story has drawn widespread attention. (Ross D. Franklin/The Associate Press)
An American conservative political commentator says he wants to help connect a Saskatchewan woman who has struggled for years to access specialized surgery for a rare disease with doctors in the U.S.
Glenn Beck, founder of the conservative media company TheBlaze, posted on X Tuesday that he would help arrange treatment in the United States for Jolene Van Alstine, whose story has drawn widespread attention.
Van Alstine told reporters two weeks ago that she'd been approved for medical assistance in dying (MAID) on Jan. 7, and was considering assisted dying because she couldn't get the needed surgery for her rare disease in Saskatchewan, or a referral out-of-province.
In a series of posts, Beck said surgeons had contacted his organization offering assistance. He later said his team was in contact with Van Alstine and her husband.
Beck also shared her story as an example for his critiques of Canada’s health-care system.
Beck posted on X on Tuesday that he would help arrange treatment in the United States for Jolene Van Alstine. (Glenn Beck/X)
"THIS is the reality of ‘compassionate’ progressive healthcare," Beck wrote in a repost of an excerpt of Jolene’s story. "Canada must END this insanity and Americans can NEVER let it spread here."
Van Alstine’s partner, Miles Sundeen, confirmed he was contacted Tuesday by Beck's staff on X.
"He’s offered to pay for at least travel and accommodation expenses, trying to get help for her in the United States," Sundeen said in an interview with CBC on Tuesday.
Sundeen said he has heard from two surgeons in America, though no arrangements have been finalized.
"For us to have it done in the States would be financially impossible otherwise," he said.
Hospitalized Tuesday
Van Alstine has a rare form of parathyroid disease called normocalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism (NPHPT). It causes extreme bone pain, nausea and vomiting.
Sundeen said Van Alstine was taken by ambulance to Regina General Hospital Tuesday morning.
"She’s experiencing a lot of pain in her abdomen, as well as what looks like congestion and possibly pneumonia in her lungs," he said.
NDP MLA Jared Clarke, left, and Miles Sundeen speak with reporters at the Saskatchewan Legislature on Nov. 26. (Will Draper/CBC)
She has undergone three surgeries but still requires specialized care to locate and remove an overactive parathyroid gland.
Sundeen said years of delayed diagnosis and treatment have led to additional complications.
"She’s been laying on the couch for close to eight years and unable to function in any way, shape or form," he said.
Sundeen said the couple met with Saskatchewan Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill after appearing at the provincial legislature on Nov. 26, with support from the Opposition NDP.
Sundeen said referrals have since been sent to three specialized clinics — at McMaster University in Hamilton, another in Toronto and one in Edmonton.
"That was done probably a little over a week ago — now it’s a waiting game," he said. "My experience with our health-care system, it will be months, perhaps even years before we get a reply."
He said Van Alstine’s condition continues to worsen.
"She is not able to go on longer the way things are," he said.
Focus on treatment
Sundeen says he is aware of the politicization around Van Alstine’s story, but his main focus is on getting treatment for his wife."When you’re in a situation and you care about somebody, you’re going to do whatever it takes to get her help," Sundeen said.
"So if it has to enter the political spectrum, so be it," he said. "I don't think it's any secret that we have problems with our health-care system."
Sundeen said his hope is that the couple can get a referral for further diagnostic testing that would allow for surgery, and possibly getting their life back to normal.
"It's a hard thing to support someone that's so ill for so long," Sundeen said.
"Depression and anxiety make it hard to stay focused and stay positive that there will be help somewhere down the line."
Sask. woman considers assisted dying because she can't get needed surgery for rare disease - The disease causes extreme bone pain, nausea and vomiting
CBC News (A)
No credited author.
2025-11-26 3:23PM EST Last updated 2025-11-27
Jolene Van Alstine, who suffers from a rare form of parathyroid disease, speaks with reporters at the Saskatchewan legislature. (Will Draper/CBC)
A Saskatchewan woman says she is considering medical assistance in dying (MAID) because she can’t get the surgery she desperately needs.
For the past eight years, Jolene Van Alstine has suffered from a rare form of parathyroid disease, normocalcemic primary hyperparathryroidism (nPHPT).
It causes extreme bone pain, nausea and vomiting.
“Every day I get up and I'm sick to my stomach and I throw up and I throw up,” Van Alstine said.
She visited the provincial legislature on Tuesday to plead for help getting surgery to remove her remaining parathyroid gland.
Currently there is no Saskatchewan surgeon able to perform the operation.
Van Alstine said she must be referred out of province, but she can’t obtain a referral without first being seen by an endocrinologist — and none of them are accepting new patients.
Van Alstine said the pain has become so unbearable that she has applied and been approved for MAID on Jan. 7.
NDP MLA Jared Clarke, from left, and Miles Sundeen speak with reporters at the Saskatchewan legislature. (Will Draper/CBC)
“My friends have stopped visiting me. I'm isolated. I've been alone lying on the couch for eight years, sick and curled up in a ball, pushing for the day to end,” she said.
“I go to bed at six at night because I can't stand to be awake anymore.”
Her partner, Miles Sundeen, said it's been a long journey trying to get help.
"It's a complex case because she has had surgeries already but they haven't been 100 per cent successful," said Sundeen.
"We really need help to find an endocrinologist and a surgeon that will take her on that are very familiar with more complex cases."
Jared Clarke, the Saskatchewan NDP Opposition's shadow minister for rural and remote health, urged Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill to meet with Van Alstine and commit to get her the surgery she needs.
“Nobody should be forced to choose between unbearable suffering and death,” Clarke said. “No family should be put in this position.”
In an email to CBC a Ministry of Health spokesperson said Cockrill did meet with Van Alstine on Wednesday.
"Due to patient confidentiality, we cannot comment on specifics of an individual’s case and outcomes," the spokesperson said. "The Government of Saskatchewan expresses its sincere sympathy for all patients who are suffering with a difficult health diagnosis.
"The Ministry of Health encourages all patients to continue working with their primary care providers to properly assess and determine the best path forward to ensure they receive timely access to high-quality healthcare."
CBC News (A)
No credited author.
2025-11-26 3:23PM EST Last updated 2025-11-27
Jolene Van Alstine, who suffers from a rare form of parathyroid disease, speaks with reporters at the Saskatchewan legislature. (Will Draper/CBC)
A Saskatchewan woman says she is considering medical assistance in dying (MAID) because she can’t get the surgery she desperately needs.
For the past eight years, Jolene Van Alstine has suffered from a rare form of parathyroid disease, normocalcemic primary hyperparathryroidism (nPHPT).
It causes extreme bone pain, nausea and vomiting.
“Every day I get up and I'm sick to my stomach and I throw up and I throw up,” Van Alstine said.
She visited the provincial legislature on Tuesday to plead for help getting surgery to remove her remaining parathyroid gland.
Currently there is no Saskatchewan surgeon able to perform the operation.
Van Alstine said she must be referred out of province, but she can’t obtain a referral without first being seen by an endocrinologist — and none of them are accepting new patients.
Van Alstine said the pain has become so unbearable that she has applied and been approved for MAID on Jan. 7.
NDP MLA Jared Clarke, from left, and Miles Sundeen speak with reporters at the Saskatchewan legislature. (Will Draper/CBC)
“My friends have stopped visiting me. I'm isolated. I've been alone lying on the couch for eight years, sick and curled up in a ball, pushing for the day to end,” she said.
“I go to bed at six at night because I can't stand to be awake anymore.”
Her partner, Miles Sundeen, said it's been a long journey trying to get help.
"It's a complex case because she has had surgeries already but they haven't been 100 per cent successful," said Sundeen.
"We really need help to find an endocrinologist and a surgeon that will take her on that are very familiar with more complex cases."
Jared Clarke, the Saskatchewan NDP Opposition's shadow minister for rural and remote health, urged Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill to meet with Van Alstine and commit to get her the surgery she needs.
“Nobody should be forced to choose between unbearable suffering and death,” Clarke said. “No family should be put in this position.”
In an email to CBC a Ministry of Health spokesperson said Cockrill did meet with Van Alstine on Wednesday.
"Due to patient confidentiality, we cannot comment on specifics of an individual’s case and outcomes," the spokesperson said. "The Government of Saskatchewan expresses its sincere sympathy for all patients who are suffering with a difficult health diagnosis.
"The Ministry of Health encourages all patients to continue working with their primary care providers to properly assess and determine the best path forward to ensure they receive timely access to high-quality healthcare."
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