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Editor: Wilma Blokhuis Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 250) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: blokhuis@haltonsearch.com f o c u s 4 ^* ^ Official Media Sponsor Little girl defeats leukemia By Shelly Sanders Greer S P E C IA L T O T H E BEAVER "JT hen Shayna McDonald was just three I M M and a half years old. she started to get 1 / / sick sporadically, spiking a fever that r r would disappear by the time she got in T V to see the doctor. She became tired all the time and complained of her bones hurting, especially in her legs. One day her parents were summoned to her daycare. Shayna was huddled in a comer, unable to stand up. For two months she had been in an out of doctors' offices, with blood work done repeatedly, but the results were consistently negative. "Your daughter has pneumonia," doctors kept telling Sandy and Ian McDonald. One morning, when Shayna woke up with yellow skin, Sandy knew this was more serious than pneumonia. She took Shayna to her pediatrician's office and told the doctor to admit her to the hospital and find out what was wrong. That day was Oct. 6, 1999 and would mark the start of a frightening journey for this small family. In the end, they grew closer, stronger, and shifted their priorities dramatically, reflecting their newfound realization about what was truly important in life. A blood test at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital finally showed what the problem was - Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Shayna and her parents were taken immediately by ambulance to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto where she was hooked up right away to receive blood platelets. Shayna remained at the hospital for two weeks, receiving intensive treatment to bring the cancer into remission within 30 days, for a bet ter chance of beating the disease. They were reassured by Shayna's doctor. The McDonalds were told ALL has an 85 per cent survival rate, thanks to research funded by the Canadian Cancer Society. "If your daughter had to get cancer, this is the one to get," he said. While Shayna. a spirited little girl with pretty red hair was undergoing these often painful treatments, her par ents were trying to come to terms with the diagnosis and what it meant for all of them. Sandy, who took a ninemonth compassionate leave from her job at a bank in Toronto, found a bit of solace talking to other parents at the hospital. Ian preferred not to get involved with other people. All that mattered to him was his daughter. "1 had to recognize that Ian handled things differently that I did." recalled Sandy. "I'm talkative while he's more quiet." Over time, Sandy found help through an Internet sup port group designed for parents for kids with ALL. "I chatted back and forth with other people and was able to ask questions." she says. "I also saw a psycholo gist for awhile. I think everyone has to find their own way." Nov. 4. 1999 is another date etched in Sandy's mem ory. That was the day Shayna went into remission, and best of all, it was within the 30-day goal which meant a better shot at a full recovery. But her battle had just begun. For the next six months she had extremely low blood counts and a severely compromised immune sys tem. "We couldn't take her anywhere for six months, as we had to avoid germs," said Sandy. "Every three weeks we were in the hospital for four nights to receive heavy chemotherapy, plus we were at Sick Kids twice a week." To make her stays more comfortable, Shayna always brought a stuffed animal from home and often, when she returned, a new one would be waiting. She also spent time in the Starlight Room at the hospital, where there were crafts, a big TV, computers and Nintendo. At home, there were 12 doses of medication a day Family focuses on positive outlook on life after child' s bout with cancer which Ian creatively disguised in bowls of butterscotch and chocolate pudding. Shayna still fought the medica tion but the oncologist said this was a good sign, as it showed spirit. For Shayna. the biggest challenges were the chemotherapy and the loss of her hair from the treatment. "I didn't like the port." she said of the catheter that was inserted near her shoulder to provide access for the chemotherapy. "`Once a friend asked me what the mark there was from but 1 didn't want to tell her." She also had to go through lumbar punctures in her spine, again to administer the chemotherapy. This was a source of fear, especially since Shayna was put under an anesthetic for the procedure that took place every six to eight weeks. As the chemotherapy went on, Shayna started losing her hair and Sandy offered to shave her head as well, to make her daughter feel more comfortable. Shayna refused the offer. She also decided to leave the few remaining long hairs on her head, "to protect the baby hairs" that were growing in. Although the prognosis is good, Shayna still has to endure years of checkups. She'll be considered cured at the six-year mark, when she turns nine, but will have to go for annual blood tests until she is 18. She received her last chemotherapy treatment last April, and the port was removed last July. Today, Shayna is a healthy, active seven-year-old in Grade I at Iicole Pine Grove. She wanted to learn French, and does not seem to be adversely affected by her ordeal. "I like writing about what we did on the weekend in my journal," she said as she snuggles in her dad's amis, hugging a stuffed horse. "I also like singing in French and I've made lots of friends. I'm glad to be seven." Outside of school, she's taken horseback riding les sons for almost a year and proudly shows off a trophy and numerous ribbons for her efforts. A bit shy about talking about her battle with cancer, Shayna seems like an normal child, with a passionate love of animals, who has no visible signs of cancer and the trauma it brought. But her parents say the experience has changed who they are and what they believe in. "Workwise. this has brought a big change," says Sandy. "I was up for a promotion at the bank and now I look back and think, big deal. Now, I work here in Oakville, in a job with less pressure. Money is not as important." Another change has been the addition of an annual trip. Before Shayna got sick, they never really took a fam ily vacation. Now. it's a priority giving the whole family time together. Two years ago. they went to Walt Disney World, thanks to a wish granted by the Starlight Foundation. Last year they went to England to visit Ian's relatives, and this May they're off to Texas, where Shayna will be able to spend lots of time with animals. They've also gone to Camp Trillium every year, which is run by the Canadian Cancer Society. It's a fam ily camp for kids with cancer so Shayna can meet other children like herself, and take part in typical outdoor activities such as swimming, canoeing and fishing. "Shayna has just started asking questions about can cer," said Sandy, "and 1 think she's worried that it will come back. At first, we woke up thinking about it and went to bed thinking about it. But now. we're finally able to focus on other things. "I always try to think positively. If I'm around anyone negative. I walk away. We have to embrace what we have." Glen Thiessen · Special to the Beaver Young c an cer su rv iv o r S hayna M cD onald, 7, relaxes in her bedroom filled w ith stufTed anim als. E very tim e she went to the hospital to receive ch em otherapy trea tm en ts for her leukem ia, S hayna took along a stufTed anim al, and re tu rn ed hom e to find a n o th e r one w aiting fo r her. The Canadian Cancer Society's annual April cam paign is currently under way. To donate or volunteer, call the society' s Oakville office at 905-845-5231. The Oakville Unit will have 1,300 volunteer canvassers knocking on doors collecting donations this month. * / f t Sunrise Assisted Living, w e care for residents with m em ory -L im pairm ent in a different way. O ur innovative Reminiscence Program is creatively designed to encourage residents to live at their highest potential in an environm ent o f safety, freedom and security. Reminiscence features extraordinary support in a separate, secure area that looks and feels just like h om e. 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