Local family touched by community's help as daughter diagnosed with leukemia

Chris and Mary Ellen MacLennan are overwhelmed by the help they have received from the community after their daughter was diagnosed with leukemia in May.

The couple, who live south of Amberley on Highway 21, have a six-year-old son, Duncan, and four-year-old daughter, Kathryn. Chris is self-employed in the construction industry, and Mary Ellen works part-time as a receptionist at the Hawthorne Community Clinic in Kincardine.

Mary Ellen's mother, Ruth MacKenzie of Point Clark, was babysitting the children in May and noticed that Kathryn was tired all the time, had very little energy and didn't seem interested in doing anything.

“I was taking a payroll course at the time and thought maybe Kathryn was upset with the changes in our schedule,” said Mary Ellen. “But then she started getting bruises on her legs and she looked really pale.”

May 31, she took Kathryn to their family doctor, Dr. Lisa Roth, in Kincardine, for a check-up. Later that day, they were told to get to London immediately where a bed would be waiting for them at Sick Kids Hospital.

“We went to London that night,” said Mary Ellen, “and Kathryn and I stayed there for the month of June. We were at the hospital for a week-and-a-half, and then went to Ronald McDonald House to stay during the treatments.”

Kathryn was diagnosed with Acute Lymphastic Leukemia which means her bone marrow is creating an excess amount of white blood cells, resulting in a low red blood cell count, said Mary Ellen. “That explained why she was so pale and why she bruised so badly.”

Admitted to hospital Wednesday, May 31, Kathryn had her first chemotherapy treatment Friday, June 2. She also received blood products to boost the red cell count.

“Over the next month, she had four chemo treatments, two bone marrow tests, and three lumbar punctures (spinal taps),” said Mary Ellen. “She was doing really well. But the chemo made her weak in her legs so she had a hard time walking. Ironically, we just got rid of our old stroller, so we had to purchase a new one.”

July 1, they were able to return home and then travel to London once a week for three weeks, for chemo treatments, including three lumbar punctures. The last week was free of treatment.

“We're fortunate that we can go down the night before and stay at Ronald McDonald House, and her treatment room is right across from there,” said Mary Ellen. “She's doing well. She has the strength back in her legs, and she tries to keep up with her big brother. We're so glad to be home; there's nothing like sleeping in your own bed and being outside enjoying the sunshine.”

Kathryn's treatment program will last two years, said Mary Ellen, with a different plan for August and September. They will travel to London every 10 days for the chemo treatment and there will be no lumbar punctures until Day 31 and Day 61 for testing. Kathryn has a port in her upper chest that makes the treatments and blood tests easier for her.

DEVASTATING DIAGNOSIS

Mary Ellen said when they first heard the diagnosis, they were devastated.

“We had just returned home from the clinic and Dr. Roth asked us to come back in,” she said. “I asked if she could just tell me over the phone. She said they thought it was leukemia and we were to get to London right away. It's weird how things turn out. My mom was with me that day and Chris had just driven in the laneway when we got the news.”

Mary Ellen said Acute Lymphastic Leukemia is not genetic, it just happens and it can strike children and adults. Kathryn's age works to her advantage, she said, because the chemo kills off the cells but her body is resilient and not battling any other disease or health issue.

“We don't treat her any differently,” she said. “She goes swimming and plays on the playground. We have to ensure there is sufficient hand-washing because her immune system is low.”



Mary Ellen MacLennan (right) with Kathryn and Duncan at the Splash Pad in Kincardine, Monday morning

The first eight months include intensive treatment, said Mary Ellen, then she expects it will slow down.

Kathryn takes oral chemo every day and back in June, she also took a heavy dose of steroids.

“She wanted to eat all the time and her cheeks and stomach were all puffed up,” said Mary Ellen. “Then after the steroids, she had no appetite. She'd eat three meals a day but that was all.”

She said the hardest part about the weekly treatments is sitting in the hospital. “You have to be there at 8 a.m., but the lumbar puncture isn't done until noon.”

Kathryn will lose her hair again in August and September, said Mary Ellen. “That actually bothered us more than it did her. She used to have long hair, but we got it cut short.”

Kathryn is supposed to start school in the fall but it will depend on how she feels, said Mary Ellen. “She would go to Brookside Public School (south of Lucknow) with Duncan. We've already contacted the school and the staff is prepared to do whatever is necessary to help us out.”

That has been a recurring theme for the MacLennans - people wanting to help out.

“It's almost overwhelming how great this community has been,” said Mary Ellen who is off work until the end of December and receiving unemployment insurance payments through a program for critically-ill children that lasts up to nine months.
“We have no health benefits but the community has been wonderful, dropping things off for us at my parents' place, making donations. Our family, friends and neighbours are the best.”

She said Chris has managed to continue working because this time of year is the busiest for him, and he is the main wage-earner in the family. “But it was hard for him, leaving us in London on the Sunday night, and being at home. But it was better for Duncan because he was still in school and we tried to keep things as normal for him as we could.”

The community continues to help out the MacLennan family.

Friday, Sept. 22, there will be a benefit dance, “Rainbows for Kathryn,” held at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre, beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 each; available at the Ripley Arena, the Ripley Variety, McRobert Fuels in Lucknow, and through friends of the family.

A Go Fund Me page has also been set up, with donations going toward medical and treatment costs over the next two years. If you wish to donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/KathrynM.

Tomorrow (Aug. 1), Kathryn has an appointment at the Kincardine hospital to check her red blood cell count to determine if she is okay to go to London for her next chemo treatment Wednesday (Aug. 2).

“Her case is standard risk and there are certain protocols for that,” said Mary Ellen. “They won't change as much as if she were high risk.”

She said everyone has been so helpful since the diagnosis that turned their world upside down.

“We are very thankful to live in such a great community,” she said, “and for Ronald McDonald House. What a fabulous place. That first week-and-a-half, we were told, here's a bed for you, here's your meals, there's a family room at the hospital where you can stay and relax, have a shower, don't worry about anything. It was amazing.”



Kathryn MacLennan, 4, sports a sweet, short haircut; with her mother, Mary Ellen