UPDATE OCTOBER 27, 2023:
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Many people are contacting me and want to help lobby for Andrew's P.E.I. Ministerial Order for the involuntary inter-provincial medical transfer home to the Island. WE CAN NOT LET THE BALL DROP AT THE FINISH LINE! Andrew's life depends on this medical transfer home to P.E.I., where he will be hospitalized by his psychiatrist.
I am continuing Andrew's story with a sport analogy. Bowling ball delivery among top level players varies a lot which tells us there are many ways to APPROACH, AND RELEASE THE BALL,THAT CAN BE EFFECTIVE!
I tried the approach of politely writing and phoning the politicians. The response was less than satisfactory. I am sorry, but I now have to make politicians accountable for their actions or lack thereof.
If the P.E.I. Government lawyers are working on the Ministerial Order for Andrew, we need to know. As parents, we deserve to know! We are the Substitute Decision Makers, as Andrew is incapable of making wise decisions regarding his health.
How you throw the ball will depend on your physical characteristics and preference. I chose to throw with dignity and grace. However, lack of action has caused me to step up my game. I apologize for that!
There's also lots of variations in how the bowler holds the ball, how fast they move, how hard they throw, how they FOLLOW THROUGH, and much more.
I want to achieve a perfect bowling game and get the Ministerial Order for the medical transfer. For a perfect game in bowling you have to roll 12 straight strikes to achieve the maximum score of 450. A strike occurs when you knock down all 5 pins with one bowl.
Andrew's life depends on this Ministerial Order for an involuntary inter-provincial medical transfer home to P.E.I. One day, I know Andrew will say, "THANK YOU MOM AND DAD FOR FIGHTING TO SAVE MY LIFE."
These people are the decision makers:
premier@gov.pe.ca Dennis King
mamclaneminister@gov.pe.ca P.E.I. Minister of Health and Addiction, Mark McLane
lthibeau@gov.pe.ca P.E.I. Deputy Minister of Health, Lise Thibeau
kdshaw@ihis.org Krista Shaw, Assistant Deputy Minister Mental Health and Addictions
jsalabarria@ihis.org Medical Director Mental Health and Addictions Dr. Javier Salabarria
The clock is ticking at the Humber River Hospital in Toronto. They will DISCHARGE Andrew when he achieves baseline. We have no idea when that might be. He will be discharged on the streets of Toronto and given the addresses for shelters and walk-in clinic. He probably will not use either.
Over the months being homeless, Andrew has refused jackets, pants, sneakers, food, water and money. Andrew will not continue his medication on the streets and will deteriorate again to the alarming rate we saw him, a couple weeks ago in Toronto.
Through photographs, I am endeavouring to show that Andrew had hopes and dreams when he was younger. Today, I am showing you Andrew achieving a perfect bowling game of 450.
Yesterday, I was told that Andrew wants to return to the streets of Toronto when he is discharged. This breaks our hearts! Clearly, Andrew is not capable of making wise decisions due to the symptom of anosognosia.
Andrew does not realize that he is seriously ill, in spite of the fact, he is in the Humber River Hospital, Toronto. We are currently substitute decision makers for medical treatment, until such time Andrew is capable of making these decisions himself.
Being homeless, is no life for our only son, Andrew! We know the medications are working, as he is becoming more sociable, but he has a long way to go! We hope and pray that Humber River Hospital keeps Andrew until such time I can arrange an inter-provincial transfer via a P.E.I. Ministerial Order.
The e-mail message that I received from Krista Shaw, P.E.I. Assistant Deputy Minister Mental Health and Addictions was less than encouraging. I replied with extensive background information on Andrew pleading for a P.E.I. Ministerial Order for an involuntary inter-provincial medical transfer.
This Order is rarely used, but the provision is there, to protect people like Andrew. What is it going to take to have the P.E.I. Government support this life saving intervention? Do I have to picket or go on a hunger strike? This provision has been used before on P.E.I.
How would P.E.I. Premier of P.E.I., Dennis King and Minister of Health, Mark McLane, feel if Andrew is found frozen in a snowbank in Toronto? And this was caused by the lack of their support from a mother who is pleading for her son's life.
I am including a photo of Andrew sleeping on St. Clair Avenue in Toronto. Is this what you want to see our son experience this winter? He will freeze to death. He has refused to use shelters and soup kitchens in the past.
Andrew was born and raised on P.E.I. He attended U.P.E.I. and achieved a BBA degree. Andrew is also bilingual. He had a career as an assistant bank manager. Andrew was married with two young children. He owned his own home in East Royalty. He was a deacon and youth leader in his church. He was a kind and caring young man and was respected by the community. Then suddenly five years ago, Andrew developed a serious mental illness, which has stolen his life. He has lost everything!
How can the Minister of Health, Mark McLane deny the Ministerial Order request? There are 10893 signatures on the PLEASE BRING ANDREW BRYENTON HOME TO P.E.I. PETITION. These are caring and compassionate Ontario and P.E.I. residents.
The media has been following Andrew's story including several radio stations in Toronto, where I was interviewed. There was also a two-part story on Tor-Star. CBC Radio and Television interviewed me concerning the P.E.I. Missing Persons Act which I successfully lobbied for, and I also had the opportunity to speak about Andrew's situation. I am also lobbying for P.E.I. Community Treatment Orders. These would help Andrew and many others stay on their medications. In addition there was coverage by the Globe and Mail, Guardian, and Eastern Graphic newspapers.
A blog was written by Marvin Ross entitled, WHY ONTARIO'S MENTAL HEALTH ACT IS DEFICIENT - THE TALE OF A HOMELESS MAN (ANDREW BRYENTON) WHO SHOULDN'T BE HOMELESS. Here is the link: https://dawsonross.wordpress.com/ These blogs are sent to Ministers and politicians.
Please also read the blog written by Marvin Ross entitled, UPDATE ON ANDREW BRYENTON AND THE KAFKAESQUE ATTEMPT TO GET HIM MEDICAL HELP. I posted it today.
The PLEASE BRING ANDREW BRYENTON HOME TO P.EI. PETITION has 10893 signatures from caring and compassionate Ontario and P.E.I. residents. Here is the link: https://chng.it/TMKMZfHH2p It is fast and free.
I think this song will inspire me to carry on no matter what roadblock or pothole I hit. Hope you enjoy RUN THE RACE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk9Xb7m08Bg
HERE IS A NEW VIDEO GLIMPSE OF ANDREW. HE WAS MENTALLY ILL AT THE TIME, BUT NOT TO HIS PRESENT DEGREE. ANDREW LIVED WITH US FOR TWO YEARS. THEN WE SET ANDREW UP IN AN APARTMENT. HE LEFT P.E.I. ABRUPTLY OCTOBER 25, 2022.
The video is titled, WINTER RUNNING.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nay9Uaera34&t=624s
Please continue to pray that Andrew receives a medical transfer to P.E.I. and that we will have the strength and courage to carry on. Lloyd and I are attending a CAMH Support Group. Last night the topic was SELF CARE. We are so thankful for this opportunity to attend, where others completely understand the pain and anguish of having a loved one, with a mental illness.
PERHAPS I CAN ROLL A PERFECT GAME FOR ANDREW!
MAMA BEAR WILL NEVER GIVE UP!