Vayda's battle: Her fight is our fight!

On May 31st, 2023, every parent’s worst nightmare came alive, Vayda who is a bright, loving, and upbeat 8-year-old girl was diagnosed with Stage 4 Nephroblastoma, also known as Wilms tumor. Her cancer mass is 25cm. For those who are unaware of what this is, this cancer specifically invades the Kidneys of the paediatric population. Unfortunately, the cancer has not stopped at her Kidney, it has now metastasized to her lungs and as well as her liver. Vayda is taking on an incredible battle with the unwavering support of her loving parents and family.

While her team of oncologists are quite optimistic with her prognosis and treatment plan, Vayda and her family have a long journey ahead of them. Vayda is facing chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical treatments, which are being done in Kingston over a very lengthy period of time. Treatment plan has been suggested that it will take at least a year to ensure a successful outcome.

Leigh Ann and Keith have already gone through 23 days of staying at Vayda’s bedside at KHSC (KGH) during the initial stage of her diagnosis. However, they are now commuting from the Quinte West region to Kingston Health Sciences Centre have been daily for paediatric oncology appointments. The cost of gas, food, and lodging have been adding up and have provided an unnecessary distraction for Leigh Ann and Keith. Which has added to their everyday life expenses as a family of 6. Both Leigh Ann and Keith have taken a leave of absence from their full-time positions to fight alongside little Vayda, the financial hardships tagged along with this fight are becoming emotionally and mentally taxing. Thus, causing added undue hardship in what is already a crippling time.

In this current sad state of our economy, we all understand the cost of life is exponentially high. Our basic necessities of life are quickly becoming a luxury even with having good health on our side. As a community, let’s be the David to help beat this Goliath we call cancer, and rally behind Vayda and her family. As Martin Luther King Jr once said, “There is power in numbers and there is power in unity”. However, there is so much power behind the number one. It takes one share, one like, or one donation of any size to help shape Vayda’s journey into a better one.