A 45-year-old father of four recently passed away in the Foothills Medical Centre from complications of a rare disease that his family says was not diagnosed during a visit to the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre.
“We’re still reeling as a family,” said Lindsey Marin, wife of the late Max Marin. “He’s got four boys at home. (He’s) been considered a mentor and father-figure and a hero to many Calgarians because he’s taught martial arts with some people for 18 years or more.”
Max Marin was among the first to bring mixed martial arts to Calgary and his Canuckles mixed martial arts gym in southeast Calgary has been a pillar of the local fighting community for nearly two decades
In late February of this year, Max became ill suffering from a headache and slurred speech. The 45-year-old sought medical attention at the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre. Physicians noted his low platelet count but the patient was released.
Within hours of his release, Max’s health deteriorated and his family took him to the Foothills Medical Centre. He was admitted and diagnosed with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), an uncommon condition that caused blood clots capable of inhibiting oxygen to vital organs.
The patient underwent plasma replacement therapy but his platelet count deteriorated. Ten days after being admitted to hospital, Max Marin passed away.
“The Sheldon Chumir seemed to maybe have missed what they were looking for,” said Lindsey Marin. “Seeing the low blood platelet he had, they should have noticed something.”
Andrea Marin-Stephens, Max’s sister and a nurse by trade, hopes her brother’s death will lead to improvements in the diagnosis of future patients.
“We need to start talking about diseases that are so rare, like TTP. I think the public needs awareness, I think our health care system needs awareness,” said Marin Stephens. “If patients gets discharged and another hospital admits them, I think we need the hospitals that have the admitting patient follow up with each other and say ‘Hey, let’s talk about this’.”
Marin-Stephens says rare diseases often fail to draw funding for research and support. “There are people who struggle daily with this and we need to help the people that are still living.”
Officials with Alberta Health Services confirm in a statement to CTV Calgary that the circumstances regarding Marin’s case are being reviewed and there are plans to reach out to the Marin family.
With files from CTV’s Brad MacLeod
