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Katies Journey

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Hello!
It is my pleasure to announce to you my daughter Katie! Katie is a 29 year old twin who was born a Capricorn on January 16 1986. Her brother is Mikael. The twins came into this world early and from day 1 they both showed me what they are made of!!!! Katies story is coming from her mom thats me ( Trish). They tell me the power of positive thinking and outlook is what gets people through difficult times such as this so if I sound positive its a good thing!! Can I just tell you though in silence shhhh that this is truly one of the most difficult things I have ever had to face in life and believe me my life has been strife and struggle. It comes with a broken heart, many hours of tears and sleepless nights and wishing every minute that if only I had some magical wand to allow me to switch places with my girl .! No parent should ever have to endure this trust me!
Now back to the story.....
It was almost 30 years ago that katie and mike came into my life! I had tried so hard to become a mother and had only just lost the previous year my first son to stillbirth. I miraculously found out that after much sorrow and pain i was indeed pregnant with twins! At 29 weeks I went into labour and did not know again if my children would survive. It was thanks to modern medicine and miracles from Macamster children neo natal unit that Mikael twin A born at 2 pounds 15 ounces and twin B Katie 3 pounds 5 ounces who was breach not breathing and had several medical issues came to survive. It took ten long scary weeks to get them healthy and able to come home to me. Katie had a grade 4 brain hemorrage many episodes of apneaé bradachardia and blood transfusions. This is nothing for any parent who has ever had a premature infant but to the parents who dont know this it can surely be overwhelming. Who ever dreamed 30 years later my baby girl would once again be fighting for her life!!!
Katie was always the care free happy go lucky child,throughout all of her many struggles in her life after being born so early she had many challenges in life to read, write, speak, walk and do many things other children took for granted and came naturallyto them.
Long story short she smiled,  grew up and made my life one of the happiest. She was always my helper and she was always the "other" mom to her siblings. I raised the children ( Katie has another two sisters) Kristen who is 28 and Jen who is 18 myself. The sacrifices I had to make in order to raise my children with many of the things other children had wasnt easy as a single parent with no support from a father figure financially or emotionally we made it through.
Katie worked since she was young offering to help support herself as I just couldnt manage all of the finer things children wanted. In fact all of her siblings followed in her footsteps. Throughout her strife with education she managed to find herself working her way up to management in our local grocery store and in charge of the cashiers.
Katie met her now husband while working away and became pregnant with her first baby a son named Sean.
This again i was in the delivery room and was one of the most proudest moments in my life! She was smiling laughing and gave me a beautiful grandson. She did it like a professional which is exactly how she does everything! Soon after again she gave birth to her beautful daughter Lauren and once again I was amazed at how fortunate I was to have such an amazing child who was also an amazing mother! Katie juggled life working,  trying to finish her schooling at home and be the best at being a mom and hold down a home and amazing marriage with her husband Greg.
Life goes on as we all know and we all are "busy" doing it!
She had some minor medical issues as we all do and handled them like the trooper she is. Never wavered as far as her duties at home or being a mom. She worries about " everyone elses needs" before herself! Nobody knows where her strength and resiliance comes from but I can tell you I taught her that we never go down without a fight and we always usually win!
Katie went in this January for routine surgery on her wrist. She had a bump. She had difficulty regaining strength and keeping up to her dogs and kids. This isnt like her at all! She went to the dr and they tested her for many things but it seems she came out with a clean bill of health!! On that note.....trust your instincts and body!!! She insisted something was wrong. The did some x rays ultrasounds still nothing. Finally they did a CT scan and a biopsy of some " other cysts they found. Last week they called her in to Londons University hospital and delivered the news.
Katie was diagnosed with T cell Lymphoblstic Lymphoma. This is replicated by many similarities to leaukemia. It can require bone marrow transplants and or stem cell transplants. She was rushed to Londons Victoria Hospital where she lay recieving high doses of Chemotherapy and then radiation. they say if all goes well it will be a two year journey!
So we begin.......Katie is only worying about not being there to snuggle with her babies, walking her beloved Zack ( dog) and haley, packing lunches,laundry and running the bubble baths. Her first day of chemo she says hmmm i wonder if i will be home in time to set up the kids pool this year? This is what shes made up of.
The kids have an average life its simple but made them happy. Old car, he cleans windows, she cleans homes but they made it work. Now hes trying to look after the things mommy did it isnt easy and money is half gone without her. The kids have given notice on thier little house to move, the dogs are trying to be re homed and Gregs parents are stepping up even afterhis mom herself just finished her own struggle with cancer.chemo and radiation. I have managed to raise the kids myself and provide, but now even today I still struggle to get myself by raise my last  child to adulthood and am finding it difficult to travel daily to see my daughter in London from Burlington. The price of gas is crazy and her husband is an hour west of the hospital and I am an hour and a half east of the hosiptal.
They have nothing from the government for someone who cant work due to cancer????? they have limited programs for families without drug insurance. Her drugs upon discharge they say will cost 2-3 thousand a month! Who can afford that>??? She has been suggested to get a nutritional program started with a vitamix blender to keep her strength they cost over 500 dollars!! I Need help!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ive done this all myself no help from the childrens fathers but now I am at a road block!! I need help from you guys my friends! Nobody deserves to be away from the children they adore , no one deserves to lay awake thinking how surreal this is and wonder how their child is feeling alone in a hospital. I know many others worse off,  many others have torturous things happen in life!!! I am not complaining just asking if anyone can please just help me help them id be forever grateful! Every few dollars add up and anything helps at this point.Finaces to help for gas for the trips back and forth, food for the kids, bills adding up etc. thanks for listening and if you cant help i understand we all have our " own story" we all are struggling in todays economy i hear you! Please though positive thoughts wishes prayers and visits talking to us advice or anything else anyone can suggest offer or donate is much appreciated!!!!
Wishing health and happiness and love to anyone who took the time to read this story! My love and appreciation to you all xo Trish ( Katies mom)
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Donations 

  • Colleen Koster
    • $50 
    • 8 yrs
  • lorainne an d karen Kearsey Carter
    • $150 (Offline)
    • 9 yrs
  • marlene ohara
    • $30 (Offline)
    • 9 yrs
  • Uncle Paul and Aunt Joan Gushie
    • $100 (Offline)
    • 9 yrs
  • Pauline and Byron Gifford
    • $50 (Offline)
    • 9 yrs
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Organizer

Trish Gushie Dale
Organizer
Burlington, ON

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