A London father is set to walk 200 kilometres to Queen’s Park while pushing his daughter’s empty wheelchair to raise funds for a life-changing neurosurgery and call for changes to Ontario’s healthcare funding policies.
Joe Gesualdi will begin the six-week “Miles4AMiracle” journey on Tuesday after OHIP denied coverage for an out-of-country procedure costing nearly $494,000 that his family says is essential for his daughter Sydney’s long-term health.
Sydney, now recovering from a devastating 2023 crash in London, suffered a serious neck injury that led to tethered cord syndrome, a condition her family says is causing worsening neurological symptoms, including difficulty swallowing, loss of sensation, and declining motor control.
After consulting a neurosurgeon in New York, the Gesualdis were hopeful the surgery would be funded, but were left disappointed when OHIP rejected the request. The family says the campaign is about more than Sydney’s case, aiming to raise awareness of the challenges faced by Ontarians seeking coverage for specialized treatments unavailable in Canada.
The walk begins Tuesday morning from the family’s home before a public launch at Victoria Park. Joe plans to arrive at Queen’s Park in Toronto on Sept. 16, where the family will urge the provincial government to review OHIP policies and improve transparency surrounding funding decisions for out-of-country medical care.