WARMINGTON: Jolene wants life-saving Florida trip instead of medically assisted suicide

In the race to see if Jolene Van Alstine gets a medical operation to save her life or is administered medically assisted suicide, this appears to be a win for the life side.

Compassionate American conservative media personality Glenn Beck has told Van Alstine to start thinking about packing her bags and heading to Florida for life-saving surgery.

“He has offered to fly me in a private jet and said they will figure out with the doctors the cost of the surgery,” Jolene told the Toronto Sun Thursday, adding she is “so appreciative” of Beck’s generosity and concern.

This news came out of an appearance her partner Miles Sundeen made on the legendary radio and television host’s broadcast Thursday. On that show, Beck, who has been in touch with President Donald J. Trump’s White House for assistance, promised “we will find a way to make this happen if it at all possible. We pray for you. There are millions of people praying for you and we will do everything we can. God Bless you.”

This is about a woman’s life more than politics

While it’s easy to pit this as a contest between American and Canadian health care systems, or Trump versus Carney, it’s more about a woman seeking a way to stay alive without writhing in pain and less a left or right thing. It’s a human thing where there is no clear bad guy.

But there definitely is a good guy.

Whatever it is, Beck of The Blaze stepping up has given Jolene a light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel which offers the contrast between staying alive through medical intervention or death through MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying).

In an emotional appearance, both men were fighting back tears.

“She doesn’t want to do MAID?” Beck asked.

“No, she doesn’t,” said Miles. “She wants to live.”

‘You are not alone’

But, he said, “when your life is absolutely stolen from you for eight years, and you suffer so much pain, depression and anxiety” you can see why one would want to find a way out.

Added Miles: “I love her with all my heart and I will do anything to get her the help she needs if it’s out there and available. At the same time I can’t blame her. It will break my heart. To be honest with you Glenn, she’s a strong girl. If it were me, I think I would have had a gun to my head a long time ago. That’s the way I feel.”

Beck, who called it one of the most “heartbreaking interviews” of his career, assured better days ahead for both.

“Miles, you are not alone,” said Beck. “And neither is Jolene.”

Saying the star has gone above and beyond anything expected, Sundeen told the Toronto Sun that with Beck’s help a “zoom call” has been arranged with the Norman Parathyroid Center near Tampa to discuss their case. The couple is starting to believe this could actually happen.

They need passports

But there are some roadblocks.

“My drivers’ licence is expired, and we don’t have passports,” said Jolene. “And my husband’s birth certificate was stolen along with his wallet, so it’s going to take getting these all.”

But those are all formalities and things that can be fast-tracked. Miles is about to start filling out passport applications. The province of Saskatchewan and the federal government can help expedite all of that as the medical professionals work out the details of getting her to Florida quickly.

Suffering from Normocalcemic Primary Hyperparathyroidism, the 45-year-old mom of a 25-year-old son has had surgeries and treatment before in Saskatchewan that have not healed her. But it is believed the approach at this special clinic stateside is what will give her the best chance at pulling through the hell she has been experiencing for eight years.

This news from Beck has got her hopeful that she may have a chance at life.

“That is what I am fighting for,” said Sundeen. “I don’t want the MAID route for her.”

Ironically that option, which looked like it could be utilized as early as Jan. 7, 2026, has now stalled as a result of Saskatchewan MAID officials telling Jolene that her earlier approval has been pulled because of a bureaucratic error in which just one doctor signed off on it.

The officials have not responded to requests from the Toronto Sun for clarity there, and neither Jolene nor Miles have heard any updates. Perhaps this is just as well because it seems to be heading toward her heading to sunny Florida.

Jolene is expected to stay in Regina General Hospital for the weekend to try to get healthy enough for a trip of a lifetime south to hopefully save her life as an American Christian conservative works on delivering a Christmas miracle.

jwarmington@postmedia.com