A Saskatoon woman named Kirsten Hanke died after her ankle surgery was postponed, leading her family to seek answers and advocate for changes in the healthcare system. On August 12, Hanke injured her ankles severely but was discharged without proper assessment, according to her husband Morgan Kirby. Five days later, she collapsed at home due to blood clots caused by inadequate care between incidents, resulting in her death after being admitted to Royal University Hospital's ICU and taken off life support. Her family has called for policy changes to prevent similar tragedies, while the Saskatchewan Health Authority declined to comment on specific cases.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The family of Kirsten Hanke from Saskatoon is seeking answers after her death following a postponed surgery. On Aug. 12, Kirsten suffered multiple ankle injuries and was treated at Royal University Hospital (RUH) but sent home without immediate surgery. Three days later, upon returning to RUH expecting surgery, she was told it would be delayed again. Her husband, Morgan Kirby, claims his wife was visibly ill, vomiting, and unable to walk yet was not properly assessed before being discharged.
Five days after the second visit, Kirsten collapsed at home and died. The family believes her death could have been prevented if proper medical assessments were conducted during her hospital visits. They are calling for policy changes by the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) to ensure such tragedies do not recur. Global News reached out to SHA but did not receive a response regarding patient policies when surgeries are postponed.
Written for “Saskatoon Family Mourning” on 2026-09-17,
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Leaning score -0.35 for article 14660 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-17
The family of a Saskatoon woman who died after her surgery was postponed is looking for answers.
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surgery → die → answers
They are sharing their story about their experience with the health care system, saying their daughter’s death was preventable.
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death → share → system
They’re also calling for changes they hope will prevent this type of tragedy from happening again.
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they → call → tragedy
On Aug. 12, Kirsten Hanke slipped while getting a package from her front step, dislocating and breaking her ankle in three places.
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Hanke → slip → places
Her other ankle was also sprained.
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ankle → sprain → ?
She was taken to Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, where she was given a cast, and sent home.
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she → take → cast
She returned to RUH three days later, where she expected to have surgery.
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she → return → surgery
But after hours of waiting at the hospital, she was told her surgery was being postponed.
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surgery → wait → hospital
“Doctor comes in and is out of the room within a minute, not an examination, not a background of her injuries in terms of how she’s feeling,” said Morgan Kirby, Kirsten’s husband.
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Kirby → come → terms
He believes his wife was not properly assessed before being sent home, adding she was visibly ill, throwing up and unable to walk because of her injury.
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she → believe → injury
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Five days later, the day she was rescheduled to have her surgery, Kirsten collapsed in her home.
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Kirsten → get → home
That’s when her family called 9-1-1.
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family → ’ → 1
Kelly Hanke said paramedics tended to Kirsten for about 40 minutes before taking her to hospital.
“From there, parents’ worse nightmare,” said her father, Kelly Hanke.
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father → say → hospital
He said Kirsten was given blood thinners and brought to the ICU.
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Kirsten → say → ICU
“Made the decision after midnight to take her off life support,” said Hanke.
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Hanke → make → support
He said doctors determined she died from blood clots in her lungs.
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she → say → lungs
Global News reached out to the Saskatchewan Health Authority for information on policies for patients when surgery is postponed, including what assessments are required before someone is sent home.
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someone → reach → patients
The SHA responded with a statement saying they can’t comment on specific patient cases due to privacy concerns.
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they → respond → concerns
“The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the patient during this difficult time.
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Authority → extend → time
The SHA is committed to ensuring patients receive safe, high-quality and timely access to surgical care.
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patients → commit → care
Due to privacy legislation and patient confidentiality, the SHA is unable to comment on the care of a specific patient.
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SHA → comment → patient
But for Kirby, the statement offers few concrete answers.
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statement → offer → answers
“If she’s not bumped from that surgery on Saturday, you guys aren’t here and my soulmate is here, still,” said Kirby.
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Kirby → bump → Saturday
There are still many questions around what happened before Kirsten died.
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Kirsten → be → ?
But her family hopes by telling their story, it will save another family from going through what they are dealing with right now.
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they → hop → what
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