Music teacher Andrea Ritcey from Nova Scotia is currently limited to playing a few guitar chords due to a serious hand injury she incurred over the Thanksgiving Day long weekend. While also battling stage 3 endometrial cancer, Ritcey had to wait almost two weeks for urgent surgery.

She is now voicing her concerns about what she sees as a “crisis” in the health-care system of the province, based on her personal experience. “The 12-day wait for help was extremely stressful,” she shared with Global News. She described that the pain was unlike anything she had ever experienced, even comparing it to her chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and childbirth.

The accident occurred while Ritcey was preparing to host more than a dozen guests for Thanksgiving dinner. She picked up a mason jar, which unexpectedly shattered in her hand. “The damage was severe. I had cut an artery, a nerve, and a muscle, basically from the webbing of my hand,” she recounted.

Despite rushing to the hospital where a doctor was able to secure the artery and stitch up the wound, she was informed that surgery was necessary within a 72-hour window to repair the nerve. Unfortunately, her wait far exceeded this time frame.

Ritcey’s surgery was rescheduled at least twice, which required her to fast and stop taking her medication each time. “It’s distressing to think that we don’t have enough surgeons in Nova Scotia. People are getting bumped off the list. It’s dangerous for Nova Scotians,” she expressed.

She now faces a recovery period that could take up to six months, leaving her to question whether an earlier surgery date could have led to a better outcome. “This is my livelihood. And while everyone relies on their hands for their work, as a musician, the need for a finger, a thumb is so specific,” Ritcey, who plays multiple instruments including the piano and guitar, explained.

In a statement to Global News, a spokesperson from Nova Scotia Health, Jennifer Lewandowski, stated that their objective is to “provide the best care possible to our patients.” She added that surgical and endoscopy volumes have increased for two years consecutively, and wait lists have shortened.

However, for Ritcey, her experience is just another example of the ongoing struggles with the health-care system. She recalled a previous incident where she visited the ER in severe pain. Despite having a yellow card indicating her cancer diagnosis and need for priority care, her wait was so long that she eventually left without receiving treatment.

Ritcey’s concerns extend not only to her own future but also to that of other Nova Scotians who are reliant on the health-care system. “We are truly in a crisis. This province is in a crisis,” she emphasized.