Alynna’s journey began in November 2010 when she came home from dance class complaining of a pain in her right knee. A few days later, the pain had not disappeared but spread into her groin, parents Judy and Leroy, decided a trip to the sports specialist where she was diagnosed with a pulled hamstring.
“We took the kids to Hawaii for Christmas. We were having a glorious time until Alynna started complaining of intense pain in her legs and back and that her bottom lip was going numb,” says Judy.
On January 15th Alynna woke up with a lump on her left side of her neck. After a brief examination at the clinic, the doctor told Judy she had mono, but that he wanted her to go to the emergency to see the pediatrician. Alynna was admitted for further tests and on January 19th the pediatrician informed the family that Alynna had Burkitt’s Lymphoma.
“After the doctor left Alynna wanted to know what that meant. I said she had cancer. We held one another and just cried,” says Judy.
Over the next several months, Alynna began a series of tests starting with CT Scans, ultrasounds, biopsy of the lump on her neck, X-rays and a MRI. She then underwent surgery to implant an Ommaya Resevoir to do some of her chemotherapy. Alynna had bone marrow aspirations, Gallium tests, MRI, Echo, Ultrasounds, and more CT scans, bone scans and lots of blood work. Alynna was in almost constant extreme pain.
At the end of April, Alynna underwent surgery one more time. The doctor had to either try and do a biopsy of the original lymph node or remove it. Thankfully the surgeon was able to remove the tumor and it was completely dead!
“We knew that Alynna still had a long road ahead of her but we were ready to get started,” says Judy. Today Alynna still goes in once a month for blood work and every three months for MRI and CT scans.
Alynna can now focus on planning her wish, a trip to Ireland. “Having my wish granted is amazing, to know that there are such wonderful people in this province that are willing to help sick children and their families to feel normal and loved again, to be able to live the life that they once had and to dream that this horrible disease shall never return,” says Alynna.
