Artist David Carlin selling collection to support daughter

David Carlin, well-known North Bay artist and teacher, is selling his collection to support his daughter. Full details in the story provided below.

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David Carlin is selling works from his personal collection. The sale of works, which date from 1966 to the present, is to raise money in support of his daughter, Sarah Carlin, who seeks treatment in Albany, New York for life-changing Surgery not Available In Canada.

Sarah was born in North Bay in 1970. She went to West Ferris Secondary School and to Nipissing University where she majored in English Studies. Sarah was a member of the Apollo Gymnastic Club and the Titans swim Team and is currently a graphic designer in Haliburton.

In 2009, Dr. Zamboni of Italy developed the "Liberation Treatment" - a surgery that opens blocked or narrowed veins in the chest and neck and gives Multiple Sclerosis patients relief from their symptoms. Results from the treatment vary, but thousands of people have sought the treatment abroad and returned home without their walking aids, or to find relief from constant fatigue, or even able to resume a normal life. Medical professionals are dismissive of these "anecdotal" results.

Sarah faces the challenges of MS every day including reduced energy, trouble with balance and walking distances, and loss of sensation in hands and feet to name a few. Most challenging of all is remaining positive and hopeful in the face of a steadily worsening condition. When she hears personal and first hand accounts of the relief people have experienced after the liberation treatment, it is impossible to dismiss them.

"It's been a hard decision to make," says Sarah. "There are mixed results in the research which has been ongoing since 2009. There are no official results yet from any of the clinical trials, but there are so many uplifting stories from real people who have had the surgery. An aquaintance in North Bay who went to Costa Rica for the surgery said 'I feel like my MS was rewound about 5 years.' There is no guarantee that I will experience the same or even any improvement, but I've finally decided. There is a chance I will regain my balance and the ability to walk my dogs more often as well as get back on my bike. There is a chance that it will stop getting worse! The associated risks are very low.

Aside from Saskatchewan, there is no sign of the surgery being approved, paid for, or made available in Canada anytime soon. Saskatchewan is sending some of its MS patients to Albany for the surgery."

The sugery along with travel and accommodations will cost $10-15,000 depending on what the doctors find when performing the venography (to determine where the blockages are) and how many times angioplasty is performed to ensure all affected veins remain open. It is not in any way covered by the Canadian government or insurance. Sarah is relying on and gratefully acknowledges the compassion of friends, family, coworkers, and the community to assist in raising the funds. "It brings me to tears, when I think of all the people who are helping me do this," says Sarah. "Thank you."

The sale will be held at The North Bay Artists' Collective Gallery next door to the Capitol Centre on Main Street, Downtown North Bay. The sale opens at 7:00 pm on Friday December 2nd and continues on Saturday December 3rd from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

We thank The WKP Kennedy Gallery, the White Water Gallery, the North Bay Artists' Collective and Art on Main for their support.

Cheques made out to Sarah Carlin TD Canada Trust Branch 3042, Account 6303440 will be accepted

To donate and help Sarah get this life-changing surgery, you can also

Make Bill Payment to Personal Payee (If you have an account with TD Canada Trust and do online banking) Sarah Carlin, Branch 3042, Account 6303440

Arrange Email Money Transfer (from an institution other than TD Canada Trust) Institution 004, Branch 3042, Account 6303440. Go into any TD Canada Trust branch and make a deposit to: Branch 3042, Account 6303440