EVANSVILLE—The Manitoulin Island community is coming together quickly to help support a young Evansville girl and her family as she battles acute leukemia.
Six-year-old Sadie Graham, who is the daughter of Rob and Jess Graham, is in SickKids Hospital in Toronto.
“Last weekend, Rob and Jess’s six-year-old daughter Sadie was taken to the Mindemoya Hospital on Manitoulin Island as she was not feeling well,” Sarah Gagne, an aunt to Sadie explained in a Facebook post early last week. “She received some fluids and blood work which came back suspicious. Concerned, the hospital had Sadie airlifted to SickKids Hospital in Toronto.”
“At SickKids, Sadie has received a number of intrusive and scary tests, trying to uncover the problem,” explained Ms. Gagne. “That being said, Sadie was diagnosed with acute leukemia. Sadie’s condition requires chemotherapy treatments and there are still many tests required to rule out any other issues. There is a long road ahead for the family.”
Ms. Gagne told The Expositor, “Sadie wasn’t feeling well, so my parents took her to the (Mindemoya) hospital where they did bloodwork, and the bloodwork came back abnormal. So, doctors at the Mindemoya Hospital had her taken by ambulance to the Manitoulin East Airport where she was airlifted to SickKids hospital with her mom Jess last Friday.”
Since then, “Sadie has undergone a bunch of tests and she was diagnosed with acute leukemia,” said Ms. Gagne. “It all came on very quickly. And there are other tests they will be doing to see if there is something else on top of the leukemia.”
Sadie was expected to start chemotherapy treatments last week, and doctors were to determine if she will be able to get treatments in Sudbury or has to remain at SickKids hospital in Toronto. If the treatments are carried out in Toronto, the family will be staying at Ronald McDonald house in Toronto.
Sadie’s father Rob works at JK Automotive in Kagawong and is a member of the Burpee and Mills volunteer fire department and will be travelling back and forth from the Island to Toronto or Sudbury. Her mother Jess works at the Manitoulin Lodge in Gore Bay. “As of now my mom and dad (Rick and Kim Graham) along with my nephew (Sadie’s brother Ray) will be staying in Toronto,” said Ms. Gagne.
Ms. Gagne explained in her Facebook post, “Due to the nature of the situation, Jess will be with Sadie throughout this journey, and Rob and Ray will be supporting them whenever possible. This does mean financial strain on the family. We are unsure as of yet if Sadie will be receiving all treatments in Toronto at SickKids or if they’ll be able to do some treatments at Health Sciences North in Sudbury. Regardless, there is a large financial burden of gas, food, and other incurred expenses due to travelling back and forth. Not to mention the many other expenses a family of our household maintains.”
“Rob and Jess are proud, hardworking people who would never expect a handout. They live their lives day to day and help anyone they can while building and maintaining their own family. Though they have family support emotionally, the expenses do add up,” wrote Ms. Gagne. “I am asking, on their behalf if you have the ability to donate to their expenses so they can focus on their family and getting Sadie healthy again, it would mean the world to me. Their children, in a way, have felt like my own and I love them dearly. I can’t imagine the stress and heartache they are going through right now. Your contribution is incredibly appreciated. If you can, please e-transfer your donation to grahamfamilyfund@gmail.com. She explained that since sites like Go Fund Me take a percentage of the donated cut for themselves the funds you donate will go directly into an account at the Bank of Montreal where the family can access it.
“As of last night (July 29) $2,200 had been donated from friends and family on the Island,” continued Ms. Gagne.
Ms. Gagne explained that Deanna Hardy who owns Betty’s Convenience Store in Gore Bay, “has been working with the Royal Canadian Legion in Gore Bay to host a fundraising spaghetti dinner and silent auction for Sadie and the Graham family. The dinner will take place Sunday, August 11, from 5-8 pm at the legion. Tickets are adults $15 per plate and children 12 and under $10 per plate. Dinner tickets can be purchased through Deanna by calling, texting or emailing her at 705-210-0325, deannalewis184@gmail.com or at her store in Gore Bay.
“Nicole Middleton of the Burpee and Mills Fire Department is putting on a picnic basket/auction on August 8 in Gore Bay,” said Ms. Gagne, who pointed out her father Rick is the Burpee and Mills fire chief.
Ms. Middleton explained, “our fire department will be hosting a picnic basket auction at 6:00 pm at the Gore Bay waterfront on August 8. We have people who are donating picnic baskets and preparing homemade food that feed two people. These picnic baskets will be auctioned off and there will be a list of what is in each basket. I started calling people asking if they would help and multiple baskets have already been donated. Everyone is encouraged to bring a blanket that evening and join in the picnic for Sadie.”
Ms. Gagne provided an update late last Friday afternoon. “Just wanted to let you know that at this time I haven’t received any definitive information aside from Sadie needing to stay at Sick Kids for her treatment. Could be a month, could be longer I don’t know yet. The family is working together to ensure that Ray is being taken care of and is able to go see Sadie whenever possible. The family is still together at Sick Kids and Jess parents are going back and forth from Barrie to see her as well. I wish I had more information for you but unfortunately due to Sadie’s infection right now she has been unable to get all the tests she needs completed yet.”
