Community reaching out to help a young family in need
A Sedgewick woman, Bea Jae Jacobsen, has started an online donation fund, and is running an online auction on Facebook, “to raise a bit of money to help my cousin and his very young family, as they face not one, but two battles,” she says.
“Justin is my cousin and Emily his girlfriend… and their young world has been rocked.”
“I was urged to tell their story in hopes that people would help them out.”
Justin, 22, and Emily, 20, were pretty excited when they learned they were expecting.
Not too long into her pregnancy, however, Emily was having back issues. She went to the Chiropractor and doctor.
Doctors thought she had a slipped disc but no x-rays were done as she was pregnant.
She continued going to the Chiropractor, also getting massages and a bit of acupuncture.
They all could only do so much to relieve the pain without bringing on the baby.
Emily eventually became unable to move and get around, and her blood pressure was sky high.
She was not able to sleep and was in constant, severe pain.
On June 29, Emily had an ultrasound, as she’d had a really rough night while in the hospital where she had been since the prior weekend as the doctors were monitoring her and trying to get her blood pressure under control.
The baby was not getting any nutrients, so they delivered him by Cesarian section.
Into the world came tiny Sullivan Justin Knull.
He was born at 25 weeks gestation, weighing just 1 pound and 7.5 ounces; he faces a long road for his survival outside his mom’s womb.
Things should have gotten better for Emily once she delivered Sullivan, but her one leg was still grotesquely swollen.
She was told she was to have an MRI before being released from the hospital, but it didn’t happen.
She went home with a walker and a leg that did not function.
On Aug. 18, the MRI was finally done, and this showed a tumour.
A biopsy was done Aug. 21 and results came back to Justin and Emily on Aug. 27, with the news that it is cancerous. The tumour at that time was the size of three softballs.
A consultation with a cancer specialist was held on Sept. 5, the couple was told then that doctors could not remove the tumour. Emily’s diagnosis was Osteosarcoma cancer.
A second MRI was done to ensure there was no other cancer, and some spots were found on Emily’s lungs, too.
A decision was made to start chemotherapy on Sept. 9, 10, and 11, with the idea of hitting the cancer hard to see if they could stop more cells from forming.
Now there is a waiting period of 15-18 days, to check to see if Emily’s blood cells are still good; that appointment is Sept. 26. If all is well, she will undergo another three days of chemo.
Justin took a leave from work back in August to focus on his new family, he is a self-employed contractor.
His main priorities are his tiny infant son, who will have months in the NICU, and Emily, who is in the fight for her life. Since getting chemotherapy, Emily has had to stop sending her milk over to Sullivan, and they have had to now start getting breast milk from the Calgary Mothers’ Milk bank.
Justin has travelled to Calgary and back to get donor breast milk for Sullivan.
“This milk is like gold to a premature baby. The milk is tested and pasteurized and frozen so it is safe for him,” Jacobsen says.
Although the first two weeks are free, it costs Justin and Emily $4 now, for every ounce. As he grows he will start needing more. At last count, he is up to five pounds, one ounce.
If you are a nursing mother and feel you are able to help the Calgary Mothers Milk bank supply, please go to the site: calgarymothersmilkbank.ca for more information.
Jacobsen says, “The medical expenses, options for alternative treatments, as well as monthly bills are going to pile up for my young cousin.
“It is my hope that I can help raise any amount of money for their family.
“A monetary donation would be so greatly appreciated.
“I know this time of the year has everyone on tight budgets, but I do ask you to look into your heart and help out even in the smallest of way if you can.”
As of this online publication, more than $23,000 had been raised online, at: ‘www.gofundme.com/epmac4’
The Facebook auction has over 100 items up for bid, with donated items as varied as home canning, to car detailing kits.
Justin is the youngest son of Angie (Blaeser) and Kelly Knull of Leduc, grandson of Dianne and Ray Blaeser of Strome, great-grandson of Blanche Gair of Killam, and nephew to Darren and Joleen Blaeser of Killam.
Emily is the oldest daughter of Lorraine Wrubleski (Dave Poirier) and Doug Atchison, of Leduc.
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor
Donation information:
From Page 2: J E S K Fund
Website donations can be made at http://www.gofundme.com/epmac4
Bank account: at the Killam ATB Financial branch
Account name: Bea-Jae Jacobsen In Trust
