A Manitoba health authority has acknowledged that an Indigenous man who passed away four months after a delayed confirmation of his cancer recurrence faced racism while seeking medical care. Leona Massan, the mother of Stephen Rockwell, expressed a sense of partial closure upon hearing this revelation in July but emphasized that it does not erase the anguish caused by a health system that neglected her son during multiple visits to Thompson’s hospital towards the end of 2023.
Described as a jovial individual who enjoyed bringing laughter to others, Rockwell, a community safety officer in Thompson with aspirations of becoming a police officer, exhibited unusual behavior in early 2023 amid persistent flu-like symptoms. Eventually diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia, he achieved remission following chemotherapy. However, his health deteriorated in October, manifesting in concerning symptoms such as vision issues and severe back pain, which medical professionals attributed to cancer-related stress.
Rockwell’s family contends that his complaints of severe pain warranted ongoing monitoring, given the potential complications associated with his cancer diagnosis. When conventional medical avenues proved unproductive, Massan sought alternative care from a chiropractor who identified concerning masses on Rockwell’s spine and hip, prompting a CT scan request to the hospital in Thompson. Despite initial reluctance from hospital staff, the scan revealed tumors in various locations, leading to Rockwell’s urgent transfer to a CancerCare facility in Winnipeg.
While undergoing aggressive treatment, including chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, Rockwell’s condition did not improve, and he tragically passed away on March 13, 2024, at the age of 33. Massan firmly believes that racism influenced the substandard medical care her son received, a sentiment Rockwell himself shared by urging doctors to treat him like any other patient. The family reflects on missed opportunities and the profound impact of discrimination on Rockwell’s care, emphasizing the enduring pain caused by systemic biases within the healthcare system.
Following a meeting with Northern Health officials, Massan received acknowledgment of the racist treatment her son endured during his medical journey, with Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara highlighting the existence of systemic racism in the health sector and emphasizing the need to prevent such injustices going forward. While the family copes with their loss and navigates life without Rockwell, they continue to grapple with the aftermath of discrimination in healthcare, underscoring the importance of addressing Indigenous-specific racism within medical settings to ensure equitable and respectful treatment for all patients.