Support Dr. Byram Bridle’s Wife as She Faces a Life-Altering Health Crisis
Dr. Byram Bridle — a leading Canadian voice for scientific integrity throughout the COVID era — is asking for help.
This time, it isn’t about public policy or academic transparency. It’s about his wife, Jocelyne (“Joc”), a woman who has spent her entire adult life serving others, and who is now facing unimaginable physical challenges after a sudden medical crisis.
Joc has dedicated decades to helping vulnerable people: children and adults with special needs, unhoused individuals, seniors, and adults with disabilities seeking employment. Her volunteer hours number in the thousands. She is known for her compassion, humility, and her quiet, unwavering commitment to lifting others up.
Today, Joc is the one who needs support.
A Sudden, Life-Threatening Illness
In early September, Joc became acutely ill — what appeared at first to be food poisoning rapidly escalated into full-blown bacterial sepsis. Within hours, she lost mobility and suffered multi-organ failure, requiring intensive care, a medically induced coma, and multiple near-death episodes.
Her survival is nothing short of a miracle.
But the damage to her extremities from prolonged loss of circulation was irreversible. Joc endured progressive amputations to save her life: both arms below the elbows, her right leg above the knee, and her left leg below the knee.
After months in hospital and rehabilitation, she is finally coming home — without prostheses yet, and facing major physical, emotional, and financial challenges as she works toward walking again and regaining independence.
Community Fundraiser This Saturday
A local church community in Fergus, Ontario — where Dr. Bridle grew up — is holding a fundraising concert this Saturday, December 13 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Church.
This will be Joc’s first public appearance since her hospitalization. For those able to attend, your presence will show her that Canadians stand with her, just as she stood with others for so many years.
The Road Ahead: Enormous Costs and Ongoing Care
While some supports exist — including assistive device programs and insurance — the Bridle family is still facing at least $150,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. These include:
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A compact electric wheelchair
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A porch lift and stairlift
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Custom prosthetics (potentially including future myoelectric arms costing ~$100,000 each)
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Specialized rehabilitation and in-home support
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Adaptive equipment for safe daily living
Friends of the family have set up two public fundraising campaigns to help ease the burden.
A Family Leaning on Faith and Resilience
Through every setback, Joc has remained remarkably positive, grounded in her faith and determined to rebuild her life. The Bridle family is praying for strength as they enter a new and challenging chapter — and they welcome the prayers of others.
CHD Canada stands with Dr. Bridle, a courageous advocate for truth, transparency and informed consent. We are honoured to help share his family’s story and encourage Canadians to rally around Joc in her time of need.
To learn more and support the Bridles, click HERE.
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