Tuesday, December 9, 2025
ADVT 
National

Mother of girl with rare disease says "nightmare is over" after B.C. restores funding

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 18 Jul, 2025 10:50 AM
  • Mother of girl with rare disease says

The mother of a 10-year-old Vancouver Island girl who has an extremely rare disease says the "nightmare is over" after the government restored funding for her daughter's drug for as long as she needs it. 

Charleigh Pollock is the only person in B.C. to have Batten disease, and her mother Jori Fales says in a social post that she is "beyond grateful" for "all the beautiful humans that have moved mountains" for her daughter.

Pollock says the "love, support, generosity, compassion, kindness and devotion" shown by supporters of her daughters are "unmatched." 

Health Minister Josie Osborne announced on Thursday that the government has restored funding for the drug Brineura, which costs about $1 million per year.

Government had cut off funding last month, citing an expert committee that said the drug was no longer helping to slow the progress of the girl's disease.

Premier David Eby acknowledged on Thursday that a letter from a different group of experts in the United States had raised concern about the decision, and Osborne said the girl and her family should not suffer because of a "significant disagreement" among experts.   

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

MORE National ARTICLES

Premier criticizes report that says Alberta hindered efforts to fight Jasper fire

Premier criticizes report that says Alberta hindered efforts to fight Jasper fire
“It is disheartening to see a report and the media response to that report that so clearly overlooks the substantial, coordinated efforts undertaken by the Alberta government during the Jasper wildfire,” Smith wrote Friday on social media.

Premier criticizes report that says Alberta hindered efforts to fight Jasper fire

Derailment in Abbotsford, B.C., closes road near Sumas border

Derailment in Abbotsford, B.C., closes road near Sumas border
The department says in a post to social media that the road is blocked off between West Railway to the commercial vehicle entrance for the Sumas border crossing.

Derailment in Abbotsford, B.C., closes road near Sumas border

Alberta serial romance scammer fights court ruling keeping him in prison indefinitely

Alberta serial romance scammer fights court ruling keeping him in prison indefinitely
Jeffrey Kent's lawyer says he has filed a notice of appeal challenging the recent ruling by an Edmonton Court of King’s Bench judge to designate his client a dangerous offender.

Alberta serial romance scammer fights court ruling keeping him in prison indefinitely

Carney to hold talks with Inuit leaders on major projects bill in N.W.T. next week

Carney to hold talks with Inuit leaders on major projects bill in N.W.T. next week
Some chiefs walked out of the meeting of the summit saying they saw an insufficient response to concerns they'd been raising for weeks, while others left the meeting "cautiously optimistic."

Carney to hold talks with Inuit leaders on major projects bill in N.W.T. next week

Report says Alberta government created command challenges fighting Jasper wildfire

Report says Alberta government created command challenges fighting Jasper wildfire
The report was commissioned by the town and surveyed participants and firefighters who battled the wind-whipped blaze that destroyed a third of buildings in the community located in Jasper National Park.

Report says Alberta government created command challenges fighting Jasper wildfire

B.C. Premier David Eby leans on Ravi Kahlon again as he reshuffles cabinet

B.C. Premier David Eby leans on Ravi Kahlon again as he reshuffles cabinet
When Eby created the province's stand-alone housing ministry in 2022, he asked Kahlon to head it, and when U.S. President Donald Trump launched his trade war on Canada this year, it was Kahlon who Eby picked to chair the cabinet committee on B.C.'s response.

B.C. Premier David Eby leans on Ravi Kahlon again as he reshuffles cabinet

PrevNext