Lylia, a transformed destiny thanks to The Children's community
Expecting a child is a wonderful experience. Holding your baby for the first time is even more special. But for my spouse and me, the birth of our little Lylia quickly turned into a nightmare...
The pregnancy and delivery had gone well, but right after birth, something went wrong. Lylia’s belly was very swollen. An X-ray revealed that her liver was so enlarged that it was putting pressure on her other organs, including her heart and lungs. Lylia urgently needed the specialized care of The Children’s.
At the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, my little girl underwent additional tests that confirmed what the doctors feared the most: Lylia was born with cancer. It had developed while she was still in her mother’s womb.
Can you imagine the anxiety we felt as parents? We were terrified. Devastated.
We had two choices: sink or swim. We decided to swim. And we had to swim fast. And thanks to generous donors, we were able to keep hoping.
The support your donations provide to families during the worst times is priceless. You give us courage, and we feel less alone in the fight. Thank you!
But today, other families are living the same nightmare we did. Instead of preparing for the Holiday season with their loved ones, they are preparing their child for chemotherapy.
By giving before the Holidays, you give families the greatest gift: the hope of seeing their child recover. Thank you. Your donation makes difference for children like Lylia.
We almost lost her several times. But after two cycles of chemotherapy, the cancer disappeared and we finally went home. Thanks to your support during these extremely difficult times, we never felt abandoned.
However, our relief was short-lived. After a routine check-up just 10 months later, we learned that the cancer had spread to her liver, eye, lungs and throat. At 13 months old, Lylia’s cancer had returned with a vengeance.
Lylia underwent 18 months of treatments: chemotherapy, radiotherapy, two stem cell transplants, and immunotherapy. The threat of a relapse is always present. We take things one day at a time, focus on the positive and never give up. Every check-up is incredibly stressful. But Lylia, who is now 4 years old, is a fighter. She has regained her energy and joy for life.
Your generosity saved our daughter. It means the world to families like ours who are facing the unimaginable.
As the Holidays approach, please donate to The Children’s so that other families going through difficult times can benefit from the same exceptional care and invaluable support. Donate before December 31st, and P.K. Subban will double your gift, up to $250,000!
Brice
Lylia’s dad