WATCH: Another devastated setback for a Kamloops family whose five- year-old is battling cancer. Elaine Yong reports.
A young Kamloops girl who was treated for cancer in Vancouver is facing a serious setback.
Life for Samantha Donovan and her family was just getting back to normal after spending eight months at BC Children’s Hospital. Dad Tyler had started a new job, and Sam was excited about preschool. But on the day when she was supposed to receive an award for being in remission for three months, they found out that her Burkitt’s Leukemia was back, with a vengeance.
“It was just getting back to normal, we thought, and this happened again and we’re back here,” said dad Tyler. “Life is on pause again.”
This time, the odds are overwhelming. Treatment will be even more intense and the five-year-old will need a bone marrow transplant. On top of that, the family faces a huge financial burden.
The first time around, Tyler qualified for EI under a program for parents of critically-ill children. But that maxes out at nine months, and he wasn’t back at work long enough to qualify again so soon.
Friends and family back in Kamloops have provided plenty of support and the Donovans will be relying on their generosity once again.
The family has also set up a crowdfunding website.
More importantly, they want to encourage people to register as bone marrow donors as a good match is going to be Sam’s best fighting chance.
Those interested in registering can visit the Canada Blood Services website.
-with files from Elaine Yong
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