Stroke victim stranded: OHIP won’t cover Barrie man’s trip home

Man stuck in Nova Scotia after suffering strokes A Barrie man who suffered several strokes in Nova Scotia is stuck there because OHIP wont cover the costs. Roger Klein reports.

A fun trip out east took a dark turn for a Barrie scout troop last week.

One of the leaders, Brennan Rocks, 38, suffered a stroke while at the National Jamboree in Nova Scotia. Fellow leader Darren Osmand knew something was wrong when he noticed Rocks’ nose running and hands shaking.

They immediately went to hospital where Rocks suffered two more strokes. Doctors operated to remove a blood clot.

But this wasn’t the end of bad news for Rocks and his family. As plans were made to get him home, the family was shocked to learn how much it would cost.

“We anticipated that we would have the help of OHIP and or extended health insurance to help get him back,” Heather Ward, Rocks’ sister told CTV News.

However, in this case medical transport back home is not covered.

In response, Scouts Canada has set up a GoFundMe page to offset the cost. Scouts from across the country have contributed and so far half of the $20,000 goal has been raised.

“I'm so moved by the amount of support we are getting from the scouting community at large which is really our extended family and the out pouring from people we don’t know, who want Brennan to get home to his family,” his partner Monique Desroches said.

Rocks’ employer, Bertram Construction, has also offered to help.

In the meantime, Rocks remains in a Halifax hospital. Family members say it will be at least a week before they will know any details about his journey home.

If you want to help bring Rocks home, you can head to the GoFundMe page by clicking here.