James King is 23, but has had nine operations in the last year. The autoimmune disorder, hidradenitis suppurativa, is a long-term, painful skin condition. While King has the support of his doctors to try a new treatment, the Newfoundland and Labrador government won’t cover it.
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He’s looking for a normal life, an education, a career and independence. A life where he is not hospitalized every two months due to severe hidradenitis suppurativa.
At age 23, James King has spent more time getting surgeries and in the hospital recovering than most spend in a lifetime. He says he’s sick of it.
“It’s been a struggle on my well-being, it’s been a struggle on my mental health and my physical overall health as well,” King told CBC News. “Unfortunately, there’s been points where I’ve been bedridden with this, points where I can’t get up with this.”
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a long-term skin …