(This is part two of a two-part series on Highway to Healing, a newly established charity in Oliver.)
Shae
Lisa Needoba cuddles son Shae Watson who continues his challenging journey in life.
Lyonel Doherty photo
Lisa Needoba was amazingly strong and composed while describing her son’s illness that made grown men cry during the recent launch of Highway to Healing.
She told an agonizing story of her son Shae Watson who has brittle bone disease known as osteogenesis imperfecta (OI).
Lisa recalled her first ultrasound at Penticton Regional Hospital, where she learned that Shae’s femur (thigh bone) was curved and slightly shorter than normal.
That’s when the big “roller coaster” ride started.
The family was told that Shae’s condition could impede his heart and lung function, and there was talk about terminating the pregnancy.
“On our way down to BC Children’s Hospital, I had a moment over the Crow’s Nest Pass – I felt like the baby told me that no matter what happens, it was going to be okay.”
After a two-hour ultrasound, an obstetrician said they were trying hard to find something else wrong with the baby, but they couldn’t.
A geneticist informed Lisa that they were able to rule out all serious conditions, which was a great relief.
But a subsequent ultrasound showed multiple fractures in Shae’s arms and legs. Lisa could no longer remain in denial; her worst fears were realized.
She put her job aside and relocated the whole family to Vancouver, closer to BC Children’s Hospital. “The hospital said they would let us park our RV in the parking lot.”
The family was prepared to do that, but after putting the word out, they were able to sublet two different apartments.
Doctors recommended a natural childbirth despite Shae’s 27 fractures in utero. When he was born (eight pounds, 12 ounces), he looked fine and was not in any pain, Lisa said.
“We were stunned. The X-ray showed no sign of any fractures.”
In fact, the geneticist thought they had made a mistake and felt guilty about what the family had endured.
Shae was discharged on day three. “It was the most blissful week of our lives,” Lisa said.
But that bliss ended four days later when he had his first fracture.
“I had been breastfeeding and was gently sitting him up when I heard a snap and he started to cry harder than I had ever heard.”
Ten seconds later he fell asleep, which was his coping mechanism whenever these breaks occurred.
“We had this little guy who was breaking before our eyes. Nobody knew how to manage him.”
Shae’s legs had to be duct-taped to his stomach, and Lisa had to learn how to deal with these frequent bone breaks.
“You have to become the expert . . . we ended up carrying Shae on a pillow for the next two months.”
Lisa had to pack splinting materials wherever she went with Shae, who started walking at 20 months.
He’s better today, but Lisa expects to repair a few bone fractures every year.
Lisa expressed her gratitude to the Shriners for paying their travel and accommodation expenses. She hopes Highway to Healing will impact many families the same way.
Chloe
This little girl with the shaved head cried every time her father cried while telling their story.
“It came as a huge shock to us. You never think that your three-year-old child would get cancer,” Jon Kroeger said.
He explained that Chloe has a tumor in her left cheek and needs chemotherapy treatment every week.
In July she was referred to Seattle for proton radiation that isn’t available in Canada. Because of where the tumor is located, regular radiation could have serious side effects, Jon said.
Needless to say, the cost for this type of treatment in the United States is “astounding,” he pointed out.
“We couldn’t have done it without the support of this community (in Oliver). We thank everyone.”
Jon said he truly hopes that Highway to Healing “takes off” in order to help more families.
Lynnea
Three weeks ago two-year-old Lynnea Holmstrom fell down while playing with her brother. That was nothing unusual, but her parents Alanea and Reid decided to get her legs checked because she was having difficulty walking.
Lynnea’s aunt, Leona Baptiste, said the family was told it was either a bad virus or leukemia. The little girl has endured two surgeries, a blood transfusion and chemotherapy.
Family supporter Yvonne James raised $2,400 in two days at her workplace, and a community fundraiser raised more than $7,000 for the Holmstroms.
Riley
Four years ago a motor vehicle accident left Riley Martin a paraplegic. That changed his life forever, and so did the fundraiser, “Riley’s Road to Recovery.”
Bound to a wheelchair, Riley is now studying business in Okanagan College.
“It’s important to have people cheering you on (which made a big difference),” Riley said.
His mother, Tanya Martin, said the support they received from the community was huge.
“We received phone calls and letters, half from people we didn’t know.”
For more information about Highway to Healing, visit the website at www.highwaytohealing.ca
