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In the very near future, the only way Bobby Mina will be able to stay in touch with his family may be through a video call. That’s because the 14 year old from Inukjuak, Nunavik, has complex medical issues and the resources needed for his care aren’t available in his community. Now, a facility in Montreal may be his only option. “He loves airplanes,” says his adoptive Anaana Lily Idlout-Mina. “He loves wheels, big trucks.” Inukjuak, Nunavik, is a small community of about 1,800 people on the eastern shores of Hudson Bay. The medical facilities there don’t have the resources to help anyone like Bobby, who has a rare genetic disorder called P5CS Deficiency that causes growth and developmental delays as well as eye problems. His biological sister has the same disease. Bobby communicates by sign language. His mother says he has a strong personality. He has a lot of energy. He would go everywhere,” she says. Now in a wheelchair, Bobby has been under medical supervision since he was six weeks old. He has made the long trip from Inukjuak to Montreal for medical appointments and treatments. In November, his appointment went from a routine check-up to a hospital stay because he had blood in his vomit and feces. His mother says she sought medical advice more than once over the years but had been assured everything was fine. “He had internal bleeding inside. Esophagus,” she says. Esophagus. It was infected, yes. All the way up to his stomach, actually.” The medical team tried unsuccessfully to administer his antibiotic in his milk through an IV – and then through a tube in his mouth. “But then he gagged,” says Idlout-Mina,” he gagged, and the tube went off from his mouth.” Physicians then suggested a small incision be made to connect a tube directly into his stomach to hydrate, nourish and administer the antibiotics. His mother says she was hesitant at first but finally agreed when she was promised the procedure would be temporary. But, as it turns out, the tube is permanent. Cleaning and maintenance of the tube, combined with Bobby’s size, makes bringing him home almost impossible. “Since I am not taking in home because of the tube,” the mother sobs, “they are looking him to stay.” Jennifer Mina is Bobby’s sister. “We preferred that he was closer to home,” she says. “Like, that, that is connected to the culture, to the land.” Closer to home, Bobby’s mother says, means that she can see him every day. “So, I can visit directly to him,” she says. “So, I can see him every day.” But there aren’t any facilities in Inukjuak for children with these kinds of medical needs – or anywhere else in Nunavik. In 2025, his Anaana advocated for such a facility at the Makkivik annual meeting. Instead, Makkivik, which is the government for Nunavik, created a fund to help pay for services. “I was surprised,” says Idlout-Mina. “I asked her already, ‘so are they going to build a house for handicapped?’ And she said, ‘no, you’ve been accepted for trust fund.” The fund was named Lily in her honour. It provides monthly financial assistance to parents of children with needs like Bobby’s. She says she’s happy the fund provides some assistance, but it doesn’t solve her situation with Bobby. He’s got the tube left from the gastromy – but he’s also not easy to handle. She says two people are needed to control and care for him. “Even though if I go through Facebook,” she says, “social workers, they post it. Nobody’s interested. There’s no one,” she says. Report an Error Tell us your Story Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Your Name *Your Email Address *Details *CommentSubmit Report Tags: Bobby Mina, Inukjuak, medical needs, National, Nunavik, P5CS Deficiency, Quebec Author(s) Stéphanie de Sève [email protected] More Stories First Nations student who was reportedly assaulted in rura... 49 mins ago By Emma Honeybun First Nation leaders from Saskatchewan travel to England t... 3 days ago By Leanne Sanders Reintegration centre aims to remove barriers for Indigenou... 3 days ago By Leanne Sanders Friendship centres in Quebec brace for federal, provincial... 3 days ago By Jesse Staniforth Audit finds ‘serious gaps’ in Yukon’s child welfare ... 3 days ago By Sara Connors Nation to Nation Government’s Jordan’s Principle funding doesn’t go f... 4 days ago By Fraser Needham
Single mother from Inukjuak to make heartbreaking decision concerning her son
March 9, 2026 4 views
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In the very near future, the only way Bobby Mina will be able to stay in touch with his family may be through a video call. That’s because the 14 year old from Inukjuak, Nunavik, has complex medical issues and the resources needed for his care aren’t available in his community. Now, a facility in Montreal may be his only option. “He loves airplanes,” says his adoptive Anaana Lily Idlout-Mina. “He loves wheels, big trucks.” Inukjuak, Nunavik, is a small community of about 1,800 people on the eastern shores of Hudson Bay. The medical facilities there don’t have the resources to help anyone like Bobby, who has a rare genetic disorder called P5CS Deficiency that causes growth and developmental delays as well as eye problems. His biological sister has the same disease. Bobby communicates by sign language. His mother says he has a strong personality. He has a lot of energy. He would go everywhere,” she says. Now in a wheelchair, Bobby has been under medical supervision since he was six weeks old. He has made the long trip from Inukjuak to Montreal for medical appointments and treatments. In November, his appointment went from a routine check-up to a hospital stay because he had blood in his vomit and feces. His mother says she sought medical advice more than once over the years but had been assured everything was fine. “He had internal bleeding inside. Esophagus,” she says. Esophagus. It was infected, yes. All the way up to his stomach, actually.” The medical team tried unsuccessfully to administer his antibiotic in his milk through an IV – and then through a tube in his mouth. “But then he gagged,” says Idlout-Mina,” he gagged, and the tube went off from his mouth.” Physicians then suggested a small incision be made to connect a tube directly into his stomach to hydrate, nourish and administer the antibiotics. His mother says she was hesitant at first but finally agreed when she was promised the procedure would be temporary. But, as it turns out, the tube is permanent. Cleaning and maintenance of the tube, combined with Bobby’s size, makes bringing him home almost impossible. “Since I am not taking in home because of the tube,” the mother sobs, “they are looking him to stay.” Jennifer Mina is Bobby’s sister. “We preferred that he was closer to home,” she says. “Like, that, that is connected to the culture, to the land.” Closer to home, Bobby’s mother says, means that she can see him every day. “So, I can visit directly to him,” she says. “So, I can see him every day.” But there aren’t any facilities in Inukjuak for children with these kinds of medical needs – or anywhere else in Nunavik. In 2025, his Anaana advocated for such a facility at the Makkivik annual meeting. Instead, Makkivik, which is the government for Nunavik, created a fund to help pay for services. “I was surprised,” says Idlout-Mina. “I asked her already, ‘so are they going to build a house for handicapped?’ And she said, ‘no, you’ve been accepted for trust fund.” The fund was named Lily in her honour. It provides monthly financial assistance to parents of children with needs like Bobby’s. She says she’s happy the fund provides some assistance, but it doesn’t solve her situation with Bobby. He’s got the tube left from the gastromy – but he’s also not easy to handle. She says two people are needed to control and care for him. “Even though if I go through Facebook,” she says, “social workers, they post it. Nobody’s interested. There’s no one,” she says. Report an Error Tell us your Story Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Your Name *Your Email Address *Details *CommentSubmit Report Tags: Bobby Mina, Inukjuak, medical needs, National, Nunavik, P5CS Deficiency, Quebec Author(s) Stéphanie de Sève [email protected] More Stories First Nations student who was reportedly assaulted in rura... 49 mins ago By Emma Honeybun First Nation leaders from Saskatchewan travel to England t... 3 days ago By Leanne Sanders Reintegration centre aims to remove barriers for Indigenou... 3 days ago By Leanne Sanders Friendship centres in Quebec brace for federal, provincial... 3 days ago By Jesse Staniforth Audit finds ‘serious gaps’ in Yukon’s child welfare ... 3 days ago By Sara Connors Nation to Nation Government’s Jordan’s Principle funding doesn’t go f... 4 days ago By Fraser Needham
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