Steve Wong never wanted to be famous. He didn’t dream of becoming a popular figure on social media. He didn’t want to become super popular online, or “go viral.” And he definitely didn’t want to give up his normal life to do it.
Known for his athleticism, dedication to his family, and as one heck of a project manager – Steve’s life was brought to an abrupt and preventable end on July 22 by our failing healthcare system.
Less than three months ago, Steve was a young, vibrant, and loving father of three. That all changed suddenly when at the age of 41. Steve was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stomach cancer. Initially, Steve’s symptoms began with difficulty swallowing, leading to a diagnosis of a large stomach tumour discovered during an endoscopy.
Complications arose, including gastric bleeding, a collapsed lung, and infections.
You’d think Steve would have been quickly referred for consultation and treatment after being given a diagnosis known to progress quickly, but this was far from the case.
No Oncologist Assigned
Steve’s wife, Cici Nguyen, shared their challenging experiences navigating the healthcare system. “Since May second, we have not stepped foot in a medical oncology office, had an appointment, or even spoken to any member of the oncology team at the Cross Cancer Institute,” she said in a video posted this month.
“We are left in the dark, a painful, scary, frustrating kind of dark.”
While receiving treatment for complications due to cancer at the University of Alberta Hospital, where Cici said they were treated “wonderfully,” ten physicians passionately advocated on Steve’s behalf.
After contacting the Cross Cancer Institute, each doctor was met with brief, one-line responses that he would be “reassessed once he is out of the hospital.”
Cici understood that the complications that arose from the cancer could prevent chemotherapy treatment she still wondered why Steve was never even assigned an oncologist.
“Why does this preclude a cancer patient from getting a meeting or assigned an Oncologist?
“I am by no means shitting on the healthcare providers themselves,” Cici clarified, acknowledging the efforts of individual doctors and nurses.
“They can only do so much with the resources they are given. I am, however, blasting the system that these healthcare providers find themselves in.”
Community Support
Steve remained grateful for the support of family, friends, and the community throughout his hospital stay at the U of A.
Support poured in from near and far.
Friends and even NHL fans rallied around the hashtag #stanleycupforsteve, hosting watch parties in his hospital room to lift his spirits during treatment.
Steve’s three young kids and wife were at the forefront of every moment. They visited him regularly, bringing picnics and sharing special moments, even as his condition worsened.
Thinking about what he will be remembered for, Steve talked about how important it is for families to be strong together. Steve was most thankful for Cici.
“The amount of love and energy and effort that my wife has put in to pick up everything that I’m not able to do at the moment— she’s the pillar of our family. We’re all just branches. I don’t have words to say for how much time she’s put into doing the research for me when I first got diagnosed of possible options. She stays nights with me here because she doesn’t want me to be alone, and then rushes home during the day times to be with our children so they’re not left out, and at least they get to see one parent,” Wong told The Edmonton Journal.
“She’s putting everybody in front of her.”
As Steve prepared for what lay ahead, he expressed his hopes for his children’s future. “I realize that their life will continue, whether I am still involved or not…I just hope that the children will realize and remember how their father loved them.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the family.
Steve Wong leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and community spirit. His impact on those who knew him and the broader community will be remembered.
Changes to the System?
Steve is not the only Albertan suffering from a healthcare system that actively ignores Doctors.
Dr. Dean Ruether of Alberta Health Services, medical director of community oncology in Alberta, just co-authored a report that has been presented to Alberta Health Services and Cancer Care Alberta.
The Report shows a widening gap between cancer referral and cancer treatment in our province, and Reuther says wait times are “unacceptable and getting worse.”
The Alberta Medical Association has been aggressively advocating for action on cancer care.
As Dr. Doreen Ezeife put it, “Unfortunately, in many cases, the cancer has progressed, and patients present advanced cancers by the time they meet me.”
Recently, the Alberta Health website stopped showing how long people have to wait for care. Now, people are waiting 3-4 times longer than what Alberta Health thinks are “acceptable wait times.”
Given the booming budget’s from oil and gas revenue, manyAlbertaare surprised we have the lowest ratio of oncologists to the population in Canada.
Unlike other medical disciplines, an oncologist cannot open a practice in Alberta until AHS creates a salaried position.
Steve’s legacy
Honouring those who’ve passed is about changing the circumstances that led to their struggles.
Right now, those with the power to change the treatment patients have access to aren’t honouring Steve or listening to any other Albertans fighting Cancer right now.
They’re letting down doctors, their patients, and their families.
As Cici put it, speaking of her husband’s experience with this system, “he’s been dismissed.”
