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Can you help a Sudbury toddler fighting leukemia?

Addylin Stacey, 19 months old, at CHEO receiving treatment

Addylin Stacey isn't even two years old yet, but she's already going through the biggest fight of her life.

The 19-month-old was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is currently at Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa (CHEO) undergoing chemotherapy.

Mom and dad, Gabrielle Myllymaki and Alex Stacey, first noticed something was amiss June 4 when Addylin started holding her breath. They went to their family doctor on June 7, who scheduled blood work for the next day. After the blood work, their doctor called them, telling them to bring their daughter to the ER, because her red and white blood cells were critically low.

They were sent home with a prescription for iron, and told to go back to the ER if anything changed.

On June 10, Addylin's balance was off, Gabrielle said, so they brought her back to the hospital. More blood tests were conducted, and an appointment was scheduled with a pediatrician for June 11.

“We went in and they admitted her because they weren't sure why she was so anemic,” Gabrielle said.

During her stay in the hospital — from June 11 to June 17 — Addylin had bloodwork done six times, an echo cardiogram, an X-ray and an IV was inserted.

On June 14, Gabrielle said doctors told her they didn't think Addylin had leukemia, but they weren't sure exactly what was causing her symptoms.

“They were going to send us home because they just assumed it was her immunizations causing this issue,” Gabrielle said. “I told them ... that I would like to be transferred to CHEO.”

Her motherly instincts paid off. On June 17, they were transferred to CHEO. More bloodwork was done the next day, which came back showing Addylin did indeed have leukemia — acute lymphoblastic leukemia, to be exact.

They gave her a blood transfusion, and the next day, they performed a bone marrow aspiration, a lumbar puncture and gave the toddler her first dose of chemotherapy and a second blood transfusion. 

On June 19, they performed surgery to insert a port and continued chemotherapy.

“We had no idea she was sick,” Gabrielle said. “The only thing out of the ordinary was she was very attached to me. She's usually a very independent, happy baby.

“Even now, she doesn't look sick and still has energy. She has all the doctors scratching their heads as to how a baby girl who looks and acts so healthy can be sick like this.”

Gabrielle and Alex will be in Ottawa for at least a month while their daughter undergoes treatment. They are now living at the Ronald McDonald House.

“Addylin is still in the hospital where I spend my nights with her, but when things get better, she will be able to come stay at the Ronald McDonald House with us,” Gabrielle said.

Addylin's big brother, Rowen, 3, is also staying with them in Ottawa. 

Alex has taken a leave of absence from his job in order to stay with his family, meaning they have no income coming in right now. A Go Fund Me account has been set up in Addylin's name to help the family with the financial costs of staying in Ottawa while Addylin fights cancer. The goal is to raise $5,000. To contribute, or for more information, visit www.gofundme.com/help-for-baby-addy.

“We will eventually be able to go home and do treatment in Sudbury, occasionally having to come to Ottawa,” Gabrielle said. “It will be a rough six to nine months filled with appointments. Treatment will be about three years.”
 


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Arron Pickard

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