Danika's Bone Marrow Journey

Hi everyone. My name is Kyla and I am organizing this fundraiser to help Danika and her family through this bone marrow journey. This is the official go fund me for Danika approved by her and her mom, Pam. 
This is Danika's story....

The past year and a half, has been difficult for many of us but for Pam and Danika it has been extra challenging. Danika has suffered for all her life with constant lung infections and shuffling from specialist to specialist with no answers, until she was seen by a new pediatric respiratory specialist in early 2020. Just a month before Covid locked down Saskatchewan, Pam was told Danika had Severe Combined Immune Deficiency; her immune system was basically non-existent, scary at any time, but with Covid even more frightening. Danika immediately began making trips to Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon for immune therapy treatments, and more blood tests that anyone would want to go through. With Genetic testing it was discovered that Danika’s immune deficiency is caused by a very rare disease called Artemis, which requires her to have a bone marrow transplant.

Danika wasn’t the only one going thru many blood tests, her sisters, Danae and Deneile also needed to be tested for the disease, as well as their compatibility to be Danika’s bone marrow donor. Danae, age 12,  was found to be a match, and although it’s preferred not to use a child, there was not another match close enough in any of the national or international registries.

A pediatric bone marrow transplant cannot be done in Saskatchewan; therefore Pam, Danika and Danae will be going to Calgary’s Children’s Hospital for this procedure. They will go in December for preparation work and the transplant is scheduled for mid-January. Before the transplant can take place, Danika needs 10 days of immune suppression treatment as well as anti-rejection drugs. She will also be undergoing Chemotherapy treatments, radiation is usually given, but due to her Artemis she cannot receive radiation. Once the transplant is complete Pam and Danika will have to stay in Calgary for up to six months to be under constant observation to make sure she has no complications or rejection.

Danika has gone thru a lot of challenges in her 17 years, physically and emotionally but she is definitely a fighter. The doctor’s say it is unbelievable for Danika to be here, as only about 1 in 3 million make it past the age of two with this disease. As normal as she looks on the outside, her family can tell this disease is starting to take a toll on her, this transplant will change her life.

As a divorced mom of three girls, life has stresses, like it does for all of us, however Pam’s current situation is filled with emotional and financial stress. The many years of searching for a clue to Danika’s illness is now compounded with the worries of two daughters undergoing surgery, and the sadness of being away from home and her younger daughters for so long. Pam was already feeling the strain of the past year and a half of travel for treatments and appointments. When she goes to Calgary, she will be unable to work, but still be faced with the expenses of keeping up her home in Rosetown, as well as the costs of living in Calgary. While most of the medical costs of the procedures and the drugs Danika will need, will be covered, there will still be out of pocket costs as well. 

Everyone that knows Pam knows she is a kind and caring soul and her daughters mean the world to her. She has always been there for her kids and now we need to be there for her. Let’s take away Pam’s financial worries, so she can focus on Danika getting better and looking forward to a healthy future.

All donations will be in trust of Pam's parents, Lance and Fern, as they will be the ones in charge of the financials so that Pam can focus on her daughter's recovery.