Father Reid Holmstrom chats with daughter Lynnea who has acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is being treated at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.
Photo contributed
On November 10 Alanea (Baptiste) Holmstrom brought her daughter into the emergency room because she was experiencing pain in her legs and having a difficult time walking.
By the end of the day they were being air-lifted to BC Children’s Hospital and had a diagnosis, one that would make any parent shudder – baby Lynnea had leukemia; the official diagnosis being children’s ALL (acute lymphoblastic leukemia).
Since her arrival at the hospital she has already undergone three chemotherapy sessions, three blood transfusions and two surgeries. This is such a horrific and terrifying experience for anybody to face, especially for a little girl that does not turn two until December 1.
Lynnea, or “NeNe” as she is so lovingly referred to by her family and friends, can be best described as a “beautiful little person that captures everyone’s attention with her smile, her laugh and her warmth.”
Everyone sees their children through eyes of adoration and love, and Alanea and Reid Holmstrom are no different. To her big brother Gustav, she is a playmate and the apple of his eye.
Unfortunately their daughter and Gus’s baby sister is now facing a very serious illness that will require months and months of aggressive and painful treatments.
These treatments that are necessary to save NeNe’s life also mean that for her parents to be there to support her, they cannot work. If everything runs smoothly and she responds well to the chemotherapy, the family can still expect to be in Vancouver for a minimum of eight months and then have to take monthly trips to BC Children’s Hospital for follow-up appointments and monitoring.
There are fundraising events already planned to help with expenses and a Facebook page (Supporting Lynnea “NeNe” Holmstrom) set up to offer support and encouragement to the family.
The first event will be an Indian taco dinner and loonie auction held on November 26 at the Osoyoos Indian Band Community Centre and Bingo Hall at 5:30 pm. A bottle drive is also planned for January 4, 2014. Donation jars will be placed at local businesses in the Oliver, Osoyoos and Penticton area.
We are also looking at having a silent auction and dance to be held sometime in March. If individuals or businesses would like to make a financial contribution or a donation of some kind of service or items that can be raffled and/or auctioned off, contact Ramona Bent at 250-485-8246 or Darlene George at 250-498-9026.
Contributed
