In need of emergency surgery to insert a feeding tube to help her eat, Lori Goldstein weighs less than 60 pounds and could die at any moment, her doctor has said.

After an unsuccessful three-week search of hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area, the York Region couple went to Queen’s Park Thursday with Oak Ridges MPP Frank Klees to ask for help and saving the life of their only daughter.

“We shouldn’t have to get our MPP involved and, thank goodness, we have MPPs like Frank Klees..,” Deborah Goldstein said, adding she didn’t know where else to turn.

“If a person doesn’t know the system, you’re in trouble.”

Among their most immediate concerns is the possibility their daughter could change her mind about having surgery by the time she gets the go-ahead from a hospital.

Mr. Klees called a doctor, who offered a potential surgery date of Oct. 20 at Toronto General Hospital, but given the gravity of the situation, seven days may be too long a wait to save Lori’s life.

The Goldsteins’ search for a bed took front-and-centre stage as Mr. Klees challenged Liberal Health Minister George Smitherman as to why a dying woman has been put on a waiting list.

“According to her doctor, Lori Goldstein is dying. Why, given Lori’s life-threatening condition, is she still waiting for a life-saving operation notwithstanding your propaganda of empty waiting rooms and claims of reduced wait times?” Mr. Klees asked.

The health minister said the Liberals have enhanced treatment services for this type of disorder since they took office in 2003 and added he would work with the York Region family to find a surgery date.

Mr. Smitherman accused Mr. Klees of grandstanding and questioned why he was not approached before question period on the issue.

Health and Long-Term Health Care critic Elizabeth Witmer demanded Premier Dalton McGuinty stop running advertisements with pictures of empty waiting rooms in light of the Richmond Hill family’s situation.

She is referring to new TV ads showing Ontario’s wait times for health services have improved due to the Liberals’ initiatives in hiring more nurses and doctors.

“At a time when people in life-and-death situations can’t get the medical care they require without the intervention of their MPP, Dalton McGuinty should pull his misleading health care ad off the air,” Ms Witmer said.

Following question period, Mr. and Mrs. Goldstein met with Mr. Smitherman and expected to hear something by the weekend, said Shelley Goldstein, father of the woman.

The illness has debilitated Ms Goldstein so that sometimes getting out of bed is a challenge.

Weighing about the same as an average eight-year-old, Ms Goldstein’ fragile knee and shoulder broke due to a fall.

She has severe osteoporosis and the disease has ravaged her body, her mind and, on one occasion, her will to live.

Battling anorexia and bulimia for about 15 years, Ms Goldstein has been in and out of eating disorder programs but continues to struggle with a disease that plagues her and her family.

She could die any day, her doctors say, without surgery to insert a feeding tube.

Although the day surgery is a common procedure, finding a hospital bed to house the sick woman after she has had the operation is nearly impossible.

Mr. Klees, who has been working with the family on and off for about six years, stressed this family’s situation highlights problems with the health care system.

“This is unconscionable. This woman can die any time without this procedure. Why wouldn’t there be an open bed anywhere?” Mr. Klees said.

“This is not termed an emergency. Nobody can tell me that you can’t delay a hip replacement or a cataract operation for a day to save this young woman’s life. Let’s not put people who are dying on a waiting list.”

Mrs. Goldstein started a support group to cope with her daughter’s problem and to provide other families in similar situations with a coping mechanism.

Southlake Regional Health Centre offers assessments, an outpatient program and daily treatment program, but only for people between the ages of 13 and 18. For more information call 905-895-4521, ext. 2322. Eating Disorders of York Region is a non-profit organization. For more information go to www.edoyr.com or call 905-886-6632.