Donation protected
Michelle and her husband met in October of 2008 while he was on a military training exercise in Alberta. Despite the challenges they faced with a long distance romance, along with the dangers that go hand in hand with army life, their love strengthened into an unbreakable bond. They were married in August of 2011 in a private ceremony in Ottawa after almost three years apart. They continued with long distance for another two years before buying their first home together. Michelle and her husband always dreamed of having a family and in 2014 they were thrilled to discover they were expecting their first child. Not long into her pregnancy, after a routine ultrasound, Michelle was informed that due to an unusually shortened cervix she would need to remain on bedrest for the remainder of her pregnancy. This also made the chances high that she could lose the baby. Through all of this, Michelle and her husband remained positive and hopeful and against many odds they welcomed Olivia in January of 2015.
Olivia brought so much joy to their lives that Michelle and her husband decided to grow their family twice more, and welcomed Sebastian in March of 2017 and Savannah in October 2019 - both pregnancies were high risk and required her to remain on bedrest, quite a challenge while caring for young children who require a great deal of physical stimulation.
It seemed that life had provided with Michelle and her husband with all they had hoped and worked for. Olivia blossomed into a loving and helpful big sister and doted on her younger siblings. Michelle's husband was due for early retirement from the army following surgeries from injuries he sustained during two tours overseas in service to our country.
Tragedy struck the morning of April 2020. Olivia fell ill suddenly, and due to her deteriorating state was rushed to CHEO. Within hours she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (B Cell). Michelle and her husband were faced with a reality that no parent should ever face, during a global pandemic. While travelling between home and the hospital, splitting time between Olivia and their two other children, they discovered a large puddle in the first floor of their home. A pipe had burst in the upstairs bathroom, rendering the only bath they have available to bathe their two toddlers useless and causing extensive water damage to their home.
Michelle and her husband are faced with hundreds of additional costs per month, including daycare fees to hold a position for their two younger children while COVID restrictions do not allow them to attend. They are faced with raising a young family and caring for a immunocompromised child with no access to extended support groups and a significantly reduced income, coupled with hospital and intensive care costs - of which a shocking amount is not covered by benefits. Despite this, Michelle and her family remain beacons of joy to all who know them and Olivia remains determined to enjoy each day that is given to her. Please consider donating to help lift the burden on Michelle and her family.
Olivia brought so much joy to their lives that Michelle and her husband decided to grow their family twice more, and welcomed Sebastian in March of 2017 and Savannah in October 2019 - both pregnancies were high risk and required her to remain on bedrest, quite a challenge while caring for young children who require a great deal of physical stimulation.
It seemed that life had provided with Michelle and her husband with all they had hoped and worked for. Olivia blossomed into a loving and helpful big sister and doted on her younger siblings. Michelle's husband was due for early retirement from the army following surgeries from injuries he sustained during two tours overseas in service to our country.
Tragedy struck the morning of April 2020. Olivia fell ill suddenly, and due to her deteriorating state was rushed to CHEO. Within hours she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (B Cell). Michelle and her husband were faced with a reality that no parent should ever face, during a global pandemic. While travelling between home and the hospital, splitting time between Olivia and their two other children, they discovered a large puddle in the first floor of their home. A pipe had burst in the upstairs bathroom, rendering the only bath they have available to bathe their two toddlers useless and causing extensive water damage to their home.
Michelle and her husband are faced with hundreds of additional costs per month, including daycare fees to hold a position for their two younger children while COVID restrictions do not allow them to attend. They are faced with raising a young family and caring for a immunocompromised child with no access to extended support groups and a significantly reduced income, coupled with hospital and intensive care costs - of which a shocking amount is not covered by benefits. Despite this, Michelle and her family remain beacons of joy to all who know them and Olivia remains determined to enjoy each day that is given to her. Please consider donating to help lift the burden on Michelle and her family.
Organizer and beneficiary
Jayne Jackson
Organizer
Kanata, ON
Michelle Boily
Beneficiary