After reading the article in BradfordToday, about the MacIsaac family and their 14-year-old daughter Daleyn and her recent diagnosis with a rare autoimmine disease, vasculitis, the Bradford Volunteer Firefighters Association felt compelled to help.
Dale, Ryan and Daleyn stopped by the Bradford fire hall on Saturday morning just before heading down to Sick Kids Hospital, to receive a cheque of $1,000 from Bradford Volunteer Firefighters Association members, Allan Grant, Jeff Torcato and Thomas Haywood.
The family was humbled by the firefighters generosity.
"Everyone is so kind," said Daleyn on the community and their support.
"It's overwhelming," said Dale. "Because I know there is a lot of families out there that need."
The teen, who was supposed to be starting grade nine this month, had been complaining of stomach pains and feelings of weakness when her parents Dale and Minerva, brought her to the hospital in Richmond Hill on Aug. 27. From there, she was rushed to Sick Kids Hospital where was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called vasculitis, which is affecting her lungs and kidneys.
She is currently receiving dialysis treatments at Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto five days a week for four-five hours at a time. It is probable that Daleyn will require a kidney transplant once her health is a little more stabilized.
Once they know what type of vasculitis she has and she is a bit more stabilized, "We would go on a transplant list," explained Dale.
Daleyn has not been able to attend school yet, but is hoping to attend for the first time later this week.
She was supposed to go to school for the first time on Friday, but after an odd reaction to the dialysis on Thursday night, they decided to hold off until Monday.
"On Thursday night after dialysis she had what seemed like an allergic reaction," explained Dale.
"They took off so much fluid and I didn't retain that fluid back, so it was hard to breathe and I was getting hives," described Daleyn.
Not only do the MacIsaacs have to deal with the stress of the recent illness and commuting back and forth almost every day to the city, but they also have their nine-year-old son, Ryan, who is severely autistic and needs plenty of support and assistance at the same time.
Since the diagnosis, Minerva has had to scale back her home based businesses, a home based day care and a children's entertainment company, putting the family in a financial bind. Minerva has been taking in some work, as much as she can, in order to pay the bills.
Dale, who does not work due to his own medical issues, says he is grateful for the community's support since the diagnosis.
"Thank you very much," said a humbled Dale on Saturday.
The Bradford Volunteer Firefighters Association is a team of 30 members who donate roughly $10,000 a year to the community, including families, sports teams and South Lake Hospital.
The association decides as a group where their donations will go. When they read about Daleyn, Haywood says it "wasn't even a question" that all the members were in favour of helping her and her family.
"We do what we can," said Grant. "It's nice to be able to help out a family."
Throughout the year, the group raises funds by hosting local boot drives and car washes.
"All of the money we raise, we try to keep as local as possible," said Haywood on the donations.
"We're glad we can help," said Torcato.
