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A Cape Breton woman awaiting a double lung transplant in Toronto may have to return home without receiving the life-saving operation because she and her husband can no longer afford to cover her living expenses.

Marilyn MacKay, who suffers from interstitial lung disease, moved to the Toronto area from Louisdale, N.S., in August 2007 after she was placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant.

‘I can’t believe that the government is just completely washing its hands of it.’—Ken MacKay

According to Toronto General Hospital, where MacKay’s transplant is to take place, patients sometimes have to wait up to two years for surgery.

MacKay, 57, currently resides with her nephew who lives about an hour outside of Toronto but commutes to the city three times a week to visit Toronto General Hospital.

Lung transplants are not performed in Nova Scotia hospitals. While the provincial government pays for the operation and medical costs outside of the province, it does not cover patients’ costs for travel and accommodations.

Marilyn MacKay’s husband Ken, who lives at the couple’s home in Richmond Co., N.S., said he and his wife have already spent $30,000 of their savings to help cover his wife’s living expenses.

But that expense is expected to double as her condition worsens and she has to move closer to the medical centre.

“I can’t even be up there with her because every time I fly up there, it costs us $600 to $700 return,” MacKay told CBC News Tuesday. “So, obviously, that is money that could keep her up there for another week or two.”

MacKay said they are running out of money and would like the provincial government to offer some financial assistance while his wife awaits surgery.

“I don’t expect them to pay the full amount but there should be a program to pay half or a percentage, something,” he told CBC News.

Nova Scotia Health Minister Chris d’Entremont said that while he sympathizes with the MacKays, the provincial government can’t afford to pay for their travel or accommodations.

“This doesn’t happen very often where we get this kind of request, so if we open up for one, we are afraid it will open a floodgate for others and we just can’t go down that road,” d’Entremont told CBC News.

He suggested the MacKays could ask charities to help offset their living expenses.

“There are programs that these organizations have, not sure about lung transplants, but funds [are] available in some incidents,” d’Entremont said.

Ken MacKay said he was shocked by the health minister’s remarks.

“I can’t believe that the government is just completely washing its hands of it,” he said.

MacKay wants the government to reconsider, or his wife will have to give up hope of receiving the life-saving surgery and return home to Nova Scotia.