HELP US! 2 siblings leukemia & brain deformation

Meet Nate & Kinsley.

 

Adorable siblings who are both fighting for their life at Sick Kids hospital in Toronto, Canada.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, you read that correctly, Katlyn (Mama) and Andy (Dad) have 2 of their 3 children fighting devastating illness in the hospital right now.

 

FAMILY is EVERYTHING.

 

This couple and their oldest son, Ryan (15), grandparents, aunties, uncles and friends have been rallying around these two precious children to get them the care they need.

 

This family needs more than LOVE, they need our help.

 

2021 has been devastating for this family - please take a moment to read how 2021 has changed their lives.

 

On February 18, 2021 beautiful baby girl Kinsley was born. The perfect addition to this family with her two older brothers. Kinsley was immediately moved to the neonatal intensive care unit (NIC-U) as she was born with low blood sugar and reflux issues. Her Mama Katlyn declared this the worst day of her life, her baby girl needed special care... It was frightening. Kinsley stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit for 2 weeks.

 

In March, Kinsley was released from the hospital and went home to a warm welcome from her big brothers, Nate and Ryan.

 

 

As the spring bloomed, Kinsley started to experience random moments where she'd stop focusing and, displayed a 'jerking' motion. Her sleeping pattern changed.

 

WARNING: this video captured Kinsley's seizures.

 

 

 

 

Mom and Dad sought help. Doctor's began to examine Kinsley. She was referred to the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto, Canada's top paediatric hospital.

 

May 21st 2021 everything Katlyn thought she knew changed in a moment. Kinsley was diagnosed with Cordical Dysplasia. 35% of the right side of her brain is severely malformed. The damage happened in utero unbeknownst to Katlyn and Andy.

 

Andy was at work that day - as a small business owner, he couldn't attend the appointment. Katlyn alone sat on the hospital stairs sobbing - declaring this, the worst day of her life. Why me? Why us? Why Kinsley?

 

Life is so unfair.

 

Two months and 4 days later, LIFE BECAME CRUEL.

 

Nate, a healthy 11 year old boy who loves his Nintendo Switch, video games and the Toronto Maple Leafs developed a really severe nose bleed. So severe that Katlyn and Andy couldn't get it stopped. Katlyn took him to emergency in Oshawa while Andy stayed home with a sleeping Kinsley. Nate couldn't even walk - he laid down on the pavement in the parking lot. Katlyn ran and got a wheelchair... As he sat in waiting to be triaged the blood was gushing out of his nose, saturating the face cloth, then, he started to bleed from his eye-sockets. Mama bear advocated for the team to rush him in. Not 2 hours later after a few tests, the doctor's declared that they had called ORNGE (air ambulance) to move Nate to Sick Kids. This bleed was life threatening. The air ambulance was busy on a July day - they loaded Nate into an Ambulance and raced to Sick Kids. If he hadn't have been taken to emergency that evening, Nate would have died within hours. Doctor's sit Katlyn down. Nate has T-cell ALL Leukemia. Cancer cells have invaded his bone, bone marrow and blood.

 

Katlyn and Andy are devastated. Their kids are both at Sick Kids, fighting for their lives.

 

These beautiful children have very complicated illnesses, here is an overview of this sad situation:

 

KINSLEY

The neurosurgical team at Sick Kids is planning to operate on Kinsley between now and Christmas. Her right-side of her brain is seizing. The surgery will disconnect the two sides of Kinsley's brain. She will lose left-side of her body movement and possible some of the sight in her left eye. She will spend 2 weeks in surgical recovery then, be released to a paediatric rehabilitation facility for approx 3 months.

 

 

 

 

The prognosis for Kinsley's development is uncertain. She has been diagnosed with a global developmental delay. Her future remains to be written. There are wonderful doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers and every possible professional lined up to help Kinsley recover and become her best. Kinsley is a beautiful 8 month old awaiting major, complicated surgery and months if not years of rehabilitation. She is absolutely precious.

 

 

 

 

NATE

This beautiful tween has overcome the many challenges brought on by his Autism, ADHD with the complexities of impulse control, communication challenges and, a struggle with oppositional defiance.

 

Being in Sick Kids has had its ups and downs for Nate. The staff at Sick Kids are absolute angels and, really get Nate. After stabilizing Nate's leukemia with over 20 blood transfusions and 20 platelet transfusions and 2 months of cycling chemotherapy, Nate is on an off-week over Thanksgiving and, at home. He is a really good sport who after days of meds, a CPAP to keep him breathing, spinal tap and collapsed lung, his first meal could be anything he'd like - Nate chose sushi.

 

 

 

 

 

Nate is working hard to kick his cancer's butt! It is curable. The treatment though spans 30 months... and, it is expected that Nate will be monitored at Sick Kids until he is 18.

 

Can you imagine? No we cannot.

 

While off work on maternity leave, Katlyn lost her job - due to COVID, the business she so enjoyed working for closed down. Andy is working round the clock and trying to balance family and work. With income slashed and costs escalated to travel to the hospital day after day, the gas, the parking, the hospital food... And, hotel rooms to keep Nate within minutes from Sick Kids. All during a global pandemic that could threaten Nate and Kinsley's health and treatments. This family is being tested in every way.

 

Let's take the financial pressures off of them. Katlyn needs to be a full-time Mom to support and love on her babies. This fundraiser will help them with a slush fund to pay for increased day-to-day expenses and, loss of wages.

 

PLEASE HELP KATLYN & ANDY while they focus on their kids & healing.

 

The financial target of this campaign was carefully thought through, Katlyn has lost her job, her maternity benefits are coming to an end. Reducing the financial burden will lessen the stress on Mom and Dad during this terrible ordeal.

Please, donate whatever you can. If you are connected to any organization in Toronto that can help with hotels, parking, maybe some Maple Leafs gear for Nate, we will take all of the happiness & help you've got to give.

 

Sometimes superheroes reside in the hearts of small children fighting big battles.

 

We will provide updates on Nate and Kinsley in a few weeks.