Help Aislinn and her family

Support and prayers for my granddaughter Aislinn

Hi my name is Pat D’Arcy and I am fundraising for my 8 year old granddaughter Aislinn and family.

Reaching out to the public for help is difficult for me, it’s not something I have ever had to do before, but this is about helping my son and his family and as such I am leaving my pride at the door and asking for help.

The money raised would go to cover the growing accumulation of daily/monthly expenses created when all the family focus is on the support and treatment of a suffering child.

Following is a brief summary of what my son’s family is and has been going through. In October of 2023 Aislinn went to emergency in Oshawa because she had a tonic clonic seizure. She was intubated when she had another that affected her breathing and transported to SickKids hospital in Toronto. While there in intensive care she was put into a medically induced coma for approximately 6 days because she had status epileptics. On the 6th day the doctors got it under control and brought her out of the pediatric ICU. After recovering for the next 5 days, she was discharged happy to be going home; but with no diagnosis. From October 2023 to January 2024 Aislinn had to go to sick kids to undergo numerous neurological tests. Some testing she had to be anaesthetized as they would be to painful for her. At the end of January 2024 Darrel and Josepha received the devastating news that Aislinn has a Mitochondrial disease, specifically, a very rare de novo mutation of the DNM1L gene, which is a degenerative and fatal condition for which they can offer no timeline and there is no cure!

Unfortunately in December of 2023 Darrel was laid off from his work and because of Aislinn and the many doctor’s appointments it has been difficult for him to look for work. Also Josepha is in nursing school from August to April and has been unable to work part time to help support the family. There is no money coming in and they need our help.

On May 29, 2024 Aislinn started to have another episode of tonic clonic seizures that were much worse than the first. She was taken by ambulance to intensive care at SickKids hospital. They had to heavily sedate her to try and stop the seizures. On June 1 Darrel and Josepha got the terrible news that the disease has progressed. They are trying to bring Aislinn out of sedation so they can determine what baseline the disease has progressed to. Today June 8th is the 9th day in intensive care. Mom and dad share shifts so one is always staying with their youngest through this ordeal.

Thank you. Any support you give will be greatly appreciated!