Family and friends are rallying together to help raise money for a child suffering a rare form of cancer.
Seventeen-month-old Isabella McMillan was first diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, a life-threatening blood disease requiring chemotherapy at seven months of age.
“When she was first born, she would never keep food down,” said mother Jackie Bitz-McMillan. “She would always be sick and cried all the time, and hurt all the time. It’s a disease that’s on her skin and in her bones,” she explained.
According to the Histiocytosis of Canada website, the disorder is a rare blood disease that is caused by an excess of white blood cells called histiocytes. They cluster together and can attack the skin, bones, lung, liver, spleen, gums, ears, eyes, and/or the central nervous system. It’s most commonly found in children under 10 years old and affects one in 200,000 children.
Because of this, Isabella skins and bones are affected and she has bone legions on her arms and legs.
“It’s quite painful,” said Bitz-McMillan.
Bitz-McMillan was born and raised in Airdrie but moved to Saskatchewan about three years ago with her husband.
On May 4, a group of friends and family who live in Airdrie are hosting a dinner and silent auction fundraiser for Bitz-McMillan, her husband and daughters Isabella and Ariana, 5.
“This is to help with travel and care costs,” said Darrell Belyk, Bitz-McMillan’s father-in-law, who said the family spends a lot of time in out of hospital.
Because of Isabella’s condition, Bitz-McMillan isn’t able to work. As well, Isabella’s immune system is so low from chemotherapy that she wouldn’t be able to fight off any cold or illness that she might contract from other children if she were to attend a daycare.
The beef-dip dinner starts at 5 p.m. at the Airdrie Legion and will feature a silent auction and bake sale.
Tickets are $10 per person or $25 for a family of four. Anyone interested in tickets can contact Lisa Caudle at 403-669-4639.
“She was born and raised here and went through elementary and junior and senior high school,” said Belyk of his daughter-in-law.
“So that’s why we want to do this, she knows lots of people here and we’re hoping we can help them out.”
Bitz-McMillan said she is extremely grateful for the event and said every little bit helps.
She also encourages people to visit www.histiocytosis.ca, and if interested, recommends people donate to the Histiocytosis of Canada to help find a cure.
“She will have this for the rest of her life,” she said.
When Isabella was first diagnosed at seven months she had to undergo chemotherapy once a week for six weeks.
“That was hard, she was in pain from the chemo and not eating because of it.”
Now, she takes chemotherapy once every three weeks and oral chemotherapy at the local clinic every day.
She said although Isabella is doing better now, the disease will flare up and intensify again.
