A local family is seeking support for their daughter, Elizabeth Trepanier, who is battling a rare condition called Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS).
Elizabeth, a 13-year-old former provincial jiu-jitsu champion and avid horseback rider, now struggles with severe pain and difficulty eating, which has drastically changed her life. SMAS occurs when the small intestine becomes compressed between two arteries — the mesenteric artery and the aorta — causing intense pain and digestive issues. Elizabeth first experienced symptoms in 2022, but it wasn’t until 2023 that she was diagnosed after a series of tests.
“It’s a condition that’s almost unheard of,” said Elizabeth’s mother, Meghan Schiestel. “Her small intestine was being crushed, and she had only a 6mm space to eat. The nutrition wasn’t reaching her body, and she’s been in a lot of pain.”
Once an active teenager who enjoyed sports and spending time with her horse, Elizabeth is now unable to engage in physical activity and spends most of her time resting. The pain has been so overwhelming that she had to switch to online classes, losing important social connections in the process.
Last January, Elizabeth underwent a procedure to relieve the compression on her small intestine. Unfortunately, with only a 20 per cent success rate, the procedure was unsuccessful. The next step is a more complex surgery to rotate the small intestine and relieve the compression, but the surgery is not available in Saskatchewan.
“There is no one in Saskatchewan who specializes in SMAS,” Schiestel explained. “There’s one surgeon in Montreal, trained last December by top specialists, and he’s the first in Canada to fully understand SMAS.”
While this surgery offers hope, not receiving the treatment would have negative side effects. “She would be in excruciating pain for the rest of her life. And because she wouldn’t be able to eat, she would likely need a feeding tube again,” Schiestel said. “Right now, she’s forcing herself to eat to maintain her weight. If she loses too much, her body will start consuming the fat pad between the arteries.”
SMAS is extremely rare, affecting just 0.013 per cent of the global population. There are only four known cases in Saskatchewan. Elizabeth’s family has connected with a global SMAS awareness group, which has helped them find the right specialists and navigate the medical system.
“SMAS is often misdiagnosed as anorexia, and by the time people are correctly diagnosed, it can be too late,” Schiestel said. “Awareness is key.”
The family is also working to raise awareness of SMAS. “We’re not alone in this, and other families are facing similar struggles,” Schiestel said. “The group is helping us share our story to bring more attention to this rare condition, especially since many people are misdiagnosed.”
Additionally they are advocating for Elizabeth’s treatment and working to gain government support, but since the surgeon is in Montreal’s private sector, the costs are similar to seeking care in the U.S. “We hope sharing our story helps raise awareness for other people dealing with SMAS,” Schiestel said.
The costs of surgery and related expenses are high, and because the treatment isn’t covered by provincial health insurance, Elizabeth’s family is working tirelessly to raise funds. A major fundraiser will take place on February 1 at the Estevan Exhibition Hall. The event will feature a supper, silent and live auctions, and live music. Tickets are available through committee members, including Meghan and Melissa Schiestel, Sarah Picton, Crystal Ross, Justiss Daoust, Kayla Peterson, and Janine Peterson.
"I would like to reach out to everybody and say thank you, everybody, for the support. We can't do this without the community."
