Image Credit: Mattenley family

By Ashley Legassic

SHELDON MATTENLEY

Fundraiser being held for Clearwater man seeking life-changing surgery

Feb 27, 2020 | 2:18 PM

CLEARWATER, B.C. — The family of a Clearwater man is hoping to raise money to help him get a life-changing surgery.

Launa Mattenley’s nephew Sheldon Mattenley — also known as Sheldon Steele — was born with birth defects 30 years ago. Launa says some of those defects were caused by an epilepsy medication his mother had been on during pregnancy.

“(His mom) was taking Dilantin to prevent seizures. They were finding that women that were taking Dilantin were having seizures but they thought it was just due to their pregnancy, and their hormone changes,” Launa says. “Then children started being born with birth defects and they linked it with the Dilantin pill being the problem. So one of many defects is facial deformities, developmental delays, extremities like your hands and feet will have deformities, and it causes hernias and it can cause sight problems, hearing problems. So Sheldon unfortunately ended up with quite a few of these.”

Image Credit: Mattenley family

According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Fetal Hydantoin Syndrome is a characteristic pattern of mental and physical birth defects that results from pregnant women using the anti-seizure drug.

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One of Sheldon’s most prominent defects is the overgrowth of his bottom jaw, which has caused hearing problems.

“If he doesn’t have the surgery done soon he will end up with hearing loss more significantly. He already has problems with his hearing. So if the surgery isn’t done then he will have really significant problems.”

A fundraiser is taking place in Clearwater this weekend to raise money toward the $15,000 Sheldon will need for surgeries to repair his jaw. Unfortunately, Launa says, provincial healthcare doesn’t cover the important procedures.

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar says he first heard of Sheldon’s story through a Facebook post.

“I was tagged in it as well by the former director of the TNRD asking if there’s anything that could be done to try to help the situation on the provincial side of things,” he says. “I’ve sent a letter request off and had a quick chat with the health minister earlier this week and he committed to look into it, and he typically does look into these issues so hopefully in the next few weeks we’ll get some positive response from government that indeed the surgeries will be covered.”

Milobar says surgeries like the ones Sheldon needs can help people have a better quality of life.

“I think in this day and age of our medical system, I think most people would assume that something as significant as the types of jaw surgeries that Sheldon needs would be covered by our health system,” he says. “So it’s very much a quality of life issue… and it would be great to see that our health system steps up and provides the services that I think all of us would expect if it was one of our family members.”

Launa says she wants to see the province step up and help out with the surgery.

“As far as I’m concerned, if you allow the drug to come into Canada and it causes problems to an innocent baby and they have developmental delays because of it as well as other issues, not just for Sheldon but for many other people out there that may have this issue as well, it’s a shame that they’re not taking responsibility.”

This weekend’s fundraiser for Sheldon’s surgeries will take place at the Wells Gray Inn pub on Saturday (Feb. 29). There will be a silent auction and a meat draw, and Launa says people are encouraged to donate either financially or through items for the silent auction.

You can also contribute to the family’s GoFundMe here.

CFJC Today reached out to the Ministry of Health for comment on the matter but did not hear back by publication deadline.