Support for Sloane's Journey

Feel good story.

Hello Everyone,

A good friend of Dawn's, Dawn Orser, sent me a wonderful message and picture yesterday.  Her son Jacob, who also knows our girl Sloane, cut off his hair in support of Sloane's journey.  This act of great kindness and compassion, could not go without sharing or recognition!!!!!

This was Jacob's message on Instagram:

"You are not alone. @sloanemckechnie

If you guys want to learn more about Sloane’s journey or would like to donate check out her go fund me"




Thank you, Jacob!!!  A true gentleman and kind human being.

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Good morning, everyone

Dawn sent me a heartfelt note yesterday and she asked that I share it with all of you.  Please read below:

I literally have no words.  The tears are openly spilling from my eyes as I type this message to each and every one of you. 

The outpouring of love, prayers, well wishes and donations is overwhelming to say the least  

Finding out your child is ill is a parent's biggest fear. This last week has been the worst week of my life and I have not yet processed any of it as I am still running on adrenaline. 

The information has been extensive. The nurses, dr's and all other pertinent staff at Sick Kids, have been amazing and attentive. I couldn’t have asked for better care than we have received here and am thankful that the bulk of Sloane’s treatment will continue to be here at the hospital. We will also utilize their satellite site in Orillia at least twice a month. 

My heart breaks for what the next several months will look like for poor Sloane emotionally and physically    I can tell you she is one strong little girl and I couldn’t be more proud of her, she is my hero  

Sloane is so touched by all of you, your kindness and generosity and once again it brings tears to my eyes. Your donations have allowed me to eliminate the added stress of expenses and costs of hotels, food, gas, headwear and any other medical things she will need. 

I will forever be indebted to each of you and thank you so much for caring and loving me and my family. Xox

Dawn

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Hello!

I have sent a thank you to many of you but not all - so a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who helped raise almost $10,000 for Dawn, Sloane and their family...in ONE day!!!!  

I heard from Dawn and Sloane is feeling ok after her first day of chemotherapy yesterday.  As stated below, she will have more chemo today and tomorrow, and then will be able to let her body rest at home until day 8 next week.

We know there are many who would still like to donate so we have raised our goal!!!!  It's a big goal but we really want the family to have ZERO worries over the next few months.  If you haven't already , share Sloane's story on whatever platform you can!  And again, a big thank you for the outpouring of love and support thus far :)
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UPDATE!
In just a few hours, we have managed to meet and EXCEED our fundraising goal. To keep the page open and allow a chance for those who have not yet contributed, who may wish to, I have up'd our initial fundraising goal!!!  This is incredible and is just a testament to how much we all love and adore, Dawn, Sloane, Vaughan and their families.
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Hi. My name is Heather and along with MANY other amazing family and friends, we are asking for your support to help Sloane McKechnie and Dawn McKellar through a very difficult time to come.

 

On Thursday June 16th, 2022, our dear friend Dawn took her 15 year old daughter Sloane for tests at the Collingwood clinic as she had been experiencing chest pain and a cough (which had previously been attributed to allergies). On the morning of the 16th however, Sloane woke with a sore shoulder and a lump on the side of her neck. The tests showed that Sloane had a large anterior mediastinal mass in her lung/chest. Dawn was advised to get Sloane to the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie where further investigations could be done. After a very long, stressful, sleepless night was spent in Barrie, a CT scan confirmed a preliminary diagnosis of Lymphoma. Doctors in Barrie advised that Sloane would best be treated at Sick Kid's in Toronto.

 

Once in Toronto on Friday, to make matters much worse for both Dawn and Sloane, Sloane tested positive for COVID-19. Sadly, this has meant that not one person has been able to visit our beauties to provide any love, support or just a friendly face, nor have they been able to leave the hospital room for some fresh air and sunshine.

 

At Sick Kid's, starting this past Friday, Sloane endured multiple lab tests, a lumbar puncture, CT scans, a biopsy and countless consults with doctors. Eventually the biopsy results, and a final CT scan confirmed a diagnosis of Stage 2A Hodgkin's Lymphoma. The news was devastating to Sloane and Dawn, and all who know these strong, beautiful souls. On a slightly brighter note, this type of Hodgkin's, or how it presented itself (ie. as a mediastinal mass), is commonly found in young women and has a good long-term prognosis.

 

Sloane was immediately started on a 28-day round of chemotherapy. She will have a permanent PICC line inserted to administer the drugs. It is a hellish regime with chemo being given on days 1, 2 & 3 and then again on day 8 with a PET scan after each round and then things starting all over again for a total of 28 days. The hope is that after each round of chemotherapy, the PET scan will show the mass shrinking. If all goes well, Sloane and Dawn will be discharged home this coming Friday June 24th to be home to rest for a few days before the day 8 chemo is given. There is also hope that eventually the treatments can be given in Orillia which is a bit closer for Dawn and Sloane to drive to. As with all cancers, there are a lot of unknowns; additional treatment may be necessary. What is certain is that this family has a long, stressful journey ahead of them and we are hoping that providing some financial support will ease some of the additional financial burdens Dawn and her family will be facing.

 

As noted, though the prognosis is good, the treatments will be very difficult on our young lady and her family - emotionally, physically and financially. Dawn will be off work for an undetermined amount of time to be with Sloane, and she will be driving to and from either Toronto or Orillia multiple times a week for some time to come. While many expenses will be covered, there are definitely many extra financial burdens that we would like to help take care of to allow Dawn and her family to focus solely on getting Sloane better, and making sure Dawn's youngest Vaughan, is taken care of as well in Dawn's absence.

 

Though we know many of you will want to message Dawn and the family, we ask that you keep the messages to ones of positivity, love and support. Dawn and Sloane don't have all the answers and both are quite exhausted trying to keep positive and fight this terrible disease. We would ask that you keep questions out of messages and we will be on here plenty updating you all with Sloane's progress OR we invite you to join a Facebook page we have set up to provide details, support and updates to those on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/519516803293801/ (Support For Sloane's Journey).

 

Please feel free to share this page with as many folks as possible so we can reach our goal and get Dawn and family some love and support during this very scary and difficult time. We love Dawn and Sloane and family very much and want to make this time as easy as possible for them. Thank you so much for taking the time to read, donate and share.