Susie Silvestri, a 70-year-old American, was the unlikely subject of a harrowing tale. This experience came on the heels of her care at Dayan Goodenowe’s health center in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. It cost $84,000 USD, but Silvestri sold her home to finance Goodenowe’s unaccredited program. Yet, while she was in the program, her health deteriorated quickly. Her medical history and care providers underscored significant difficulties she had with both eating and swallowing. These complications grew serious enough that she made the decision to pursue additional medical care.
Silvestri came into Goodenowe’s space with every positive intention, but lost the battle with her condition during her healing journey. At the center she was given a protocol including high-dose IV supplements. For her, that wasn’t the worst part — she was struggling with simple things like eating and swallowing. As her condition deteriorated, she asked to have a feeding tube installed—a tremendously difficult request that signified the dire reality of her rapidly failing health.
Health Decline and Complications
When she arrived at the Goodenowe center, caregivers discovered Silvestri had been fasting for days. A former worker at the facility stated, “On Dec. 3, Tuesday, I came in for my shift learning that Susie has not been eating for few days due to her not being able to swallow anything anymore.” This alarming information had naturally made her worried about the quality of care she was receiving.
Veterinarian Dayan Goodenowe said Silvestri’s health never deteriorated during his treatment. This is especially remarkable given Dayan’s own rapidly deteriorating health. He suggested that she showed improvement during her time at Moose Jaw, stating, “By November 2024, she could wiggle her toes and ankle. She could hold her leg up in a bent position for 45 seconds and her voice was noticeably stronger.” Former care workers contested these claims.
“I deny the claim that her voice was noticeably stronger. This is false. Not only was Susie unable to speak, but her swallowing also worsened over time,” – Former Goodenowe care worker.
This large discrepancy in accounts calls into question whether adequate care was provided at the center. With Silvestri’s swallowing issues, dietician Haley Oshowy suggested a nasal feeding tube as one option. Regrettably, Silvestri finally decided that she could no longer live with the feeding tube in her nose on December 7.
Seeking Medical Help
Silvestri firmly reined in those concerns. As she faced disconcerting stability issues, she desperately needed a long-term answer. She rented a retired ambulance and borrowed medical equipment. This was crucial in enabling her to be transferred to an American hospital that was equipped to perform the more complex surgery required for a feeding tube. On her first day, December 8, she boarded a patient transport vehicle. From there, she began the four hour trip to Sidney, Montana.
During her stay in Montana, Silvestri stayed true to form, tracking the costs of her treatment on a whiteboard in her hospital room. Knowing she was responsible for the tremendous financial burden of her own care weighed heavily on her during this challenging time. Tragically, no matter how hard she tried to access the care that she needed, Susie Silvestri passed away by herself in a Montana hospital just after she got there.
“While there were some good days, the bad days clearly outweighed the good ones,” – Former Goodenowe employee.
The circumstances surrounding Silvestri’s death have prompted scrutiny of Goodenowe’s treatment methods and the overall effectiveness of alternative therapies for ALS patients. A former employee emphasized the challenges faced by patients at the Moose Jaw facility, stating, “Claiming that her health improved is a cognitive bias and does not reflect her actual condition.”
Legal Battles and Defamation Claims
Epana’s Dayan Goodenowe has brought a lawsuit against CBC. He argues that the network’s reporting about his health center was defamatory given the ongoing investigation into Silvestri’s case. This lawsuit illustrates how alternative medicine can be a battleground, and how many alternative practices are constantly under the microscope.
Goodenowe has vigorously defended his treatment protocols and claimed that his approach provides unique, immeasurable benefits to patients fighting ALS. He stated, “The doctors may not understand them but they are very good and will help.” The accuracy of some of these claims is now under scrutiny, as new details about Silvestri’s experience come to light.
Employees who worked at Goodenowe’s facility say they’ve had enough. They lament the lack of trained professionals who have the capacity to care for the complex needs of ALS patients. One former employee remarked, “Do they even have an ALS specialist at their Moose Jaw facility? Who could Jana be referring to?” This confusion raises serious concerns about how much expertise patients can expect to find when they seek treatment at the center.
