Help Elaina fight Aplastic Anemia

Elaina Winslow-Hansen is 19 years old and has Aplastic Anemia- a rare and serious blood condition that affects only 3 out of 1 million people.

On January 30th, 2019 Elaina was rushed to the hospital in Cranbrook, B.C. where she lives with her parents Tammy and Mike Winslow-Hansen. Her red blood cell count was so low that they had to give her 3 units of blood to stabilize her before flying her to Vancouver General Hospital. After many painful tests Elaina was diagnosed with aplastic anemia.

Since then Elaina has undergone bone marrow biopsies, platelet and red blood cell transfusions, CT scans, ultra sounds, ECG tests, chemotherapy and ongoing blood tests.

The best chance for Elaina’s long-term health is a bone marrow transplant and thankfully her older sister Hayley is a perfect match. The two sisters prepared for and underwent the transplant on April 17th and are both recovering.

Hayley took 3 weeks off of work for the preparation, procedure, and recovery. It will take Hayley about 3 months to replenish the marrow she donated. Elaina will remain in the hospital for 4-6 weeks in isolation and will continue receiving chemotherapy, transfusions when needed, and medications to suppress her immune system.

The road ahead for Elaina and her family is a long and difficult one. Once released from the hospital Elaina will remain in the Lower Mainland until September/October and continue as an outpatient at Vancouver General every 3-4 days for check-ups and blood work. After Elaina returns home to Cranbrook, she will have to travel to Vancouver every 3 months for checkups. She will not be able to work for one year as her immune system is compromised and she is at high risk for infection.

Elaina’s parents try their hardest to get to Vancouver as much as possible, worrying about their daughter every second they’re away from her. In their absence Hayley and their grandmother are with Elaina to provide her with support and company.

As friends of this amazing family that are living every parent’s nightmare, we desperately want to help them in any way that we can.

Your kind donations will help cover travel expenses and medical costs incurred over the next year as they battle this unexpected turn of events in their life.

Let’s help Elaina get through this and back to enjoying her life as a strong, incredibly brave and beautiful young woman doing the things she loves to do.