A St. Albert family is desperate to find a bone-marrow match for their five-year-old daughter who has been diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia.
They family has been waiting months, while experts have been scouring registries worldwide trying to find a match for five-year-old Halle Popowich.
It was earlier this summer when signs showed something was wrong with Halle.
“There were an abnormal number of bruises, so many different colours and shapes and sizes.”” said Deana Popowich, Halle’s mother.
Halle was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia – with a grim prognosis.
Despite countless hospital visits since June, the young girl, who loves princesses and dancing, remains positive.
She says she appreciates time away from chemotherapy and doctors.
“It’s not really fun there,” Halle said.
The Popowich family’s story is not unusual.
They are one of 61 others waiting in Alberta for a stem cell transplant.
In Canada, nearly 1,000 people are waiting.
“Every 29 minutes someone is diagnosed and every 76 minutes someone passes away of blood cancer,” said Katie Suvanto with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
It’s a reality fueling the society’s mission to raise awareness.
Suvanto’s niece is now three years cancer-free.
“It’s absolutely fantastic she’s here,” Suvanto said. “We didn’t expect her to be.”
It’s a source of inspiration for the Popowich’s, but with every day that passes, they’re growing more nervous.
“As time goes on we’re getting more nervous,” Deana said.
“But we’re hopeful.”
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will honour the more than 600 people who died in Alberta from blood cancers last year at an event at West Edmonton Mall on August 31.
On September 28, there will be a fundraising event at Victoria Park.
Click here for more details on the Light the Night Walk to raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
For more information on stem cell and marrow donation, click here.
With files from Serena Mah
