Visiting Hours: Sundeep’s Story

After his stroke, Sundeep knew that there was no way he would be able to return to work. Even though he was out of immediate danger, he was only 48 and had lost much of his ability to walk and talk clearly. It came as such a shock when his long-term disability claim was denied. After many months of fighting with the insurance company and Sundeep’s employer a settlement was reached. Both Sundeep and his family were extremely grateful to Share Lawyers for helping them navigate the complex legal process. The settlement came as a huge relief, and Sundeep knew that he would...

Facing The Painkillers: Daria’s Story

Everything had started innocently enough. Daria’s back was aching after a long shift at the hospital in Victoria, BC, so she took an over-the-counter painkiller to make sure she’d have enough strength to return to work the next day. The painkillers worked the first few times her back ached but it wasn’t long before the stress (and the pain) started to exceed the medication. The days at the hospital could be exhausting. As a nurse, Daria dealt with one crisis after another, often while navigating heightened emotional situations. Daria slowly escalated from over-the-counter...

I Have Diabetes: Am I Eligible for Disability Benefits?

As far as the law is concerned, diabetes is much like any other medical condition. If the disease limits your ability to do your job, it can be grounds for a short or long term disability claim. So, how can diabetes impact you at work? To a certain extent, the answer will depend on the specific nature of your job. For example, many people with diabetes experience numbness in their extremities. If you have a physical job that requires you to spend long hours on your feet – or one that needs fine motor skills with your hands – that can make it nearly impossible to perform...

A Good Patient Advocate Can Be the Difference Between Life and Death

When it comes to healthcare, communication is vital. Doctors and nurses need an accurate description of a patient’s symptoms in order to make a diagnosis and provide the appropriate care. This is particularly vital for people with disabilities, who could be taking other medications or experiencing complications that could factor into a doctor’s analysis. Unfortunately, those same disabilities can also make it more difficult to communicate, especially if the healthcare staff is not familiar with the patient.   That’s why it’s important for people with...

Robin Williams’ Final Days And Battle With Lewy Body Dementia Revealed In N...

Lewy Body Dementia, a degenerative brain disease, is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s disease, accounting for approximately 10 percent of all diagnosed cases of dementia in Canada. LBD affects every aspect of a person, with symptoms including impaired thinking, memory loss, tremors, difficulty moving, visual hallucinations, paranoia, depression, and changes in autonomic body functions. With no specific test to diagnose Lewy Body Dementia, and with many of the same signs and symptoms as other forms of dementia, LBD is often misdiagnosed, leading...

An Office Manager Without An Office: Denied Claim For Migraines

Celine is a 32 year old office manager that felt like she could handle anything the job could throw at her.  Like many workplaces, Celine’s employer had closed its offices in the Kitchener-Waterloo region and transitioned to a work from home environment at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was understandable, but it completely upended her day-to-day routine, as well as the basic demands of the job and the workflow processes she had developed over the years. This took a toll on Celine’s health. While Celine had experienced migraines in the past, they...

Heavy Lifting: Denied Claim For Construction Worker With Anxiety

Tyler had never been one to shy away from manual labour. He was strong and in good physical health, and construction work seemed like a good way to leverage his abilities. Or at least, that’s the way it had seemed when he first took the job when he was 29 years old. As a single father, Tyler needed a steady source of income to provide for his son. He didn’t realize how much of an impact his mental health could have on his physical performance. Tyler had struggled with depression when he was younger, but his flare-ups had always seemed relatively minor. His mental health...

How Drake’s Creative Partner Learned to Take Care of His MS

Toronto’s Noah Shebib may not be a household name, but nearly everyone is familiar with his music. Better known as “40,” Shebib is the chief architect of Drake’s signature sound, and he has produced some of the biggest hits of the past decade as the rapper’s right-hand man.   Shebib has also been living with Multiple Sclerosis since he was 22. His condition is one of the few things that can draw him into the spotlight. After he received his diagnosis, Shebib spent the next 10 years largely ignoring his MS, neglecting to take his medication as he toured the world...