Bradford mother and entrepreneur Minerva MacIsaac was looking forward to the fall.
As summer was winding down, she was busy preparing for 14-year-old daughter Daleyn’s first year of high school.
But over the past few months, Daleyn was not feeling like herself. She hardly ate, and was feeling dizzy and weak a lot of the time and complained of stomach pain. Doctors had advised giving her Advil for pain relief.
But on Aug. 27, MacIsaac was getting worried and suspected there was something seriously wrong, so she decided to bring her daughter to the hospital in Richmond Hill, Mackenzie Health for a second opinion.
“I told her (Daleyn) we need to bring you to the hospital so when school starts, you’re not sick,” explained MacIsaac.
From there, Daleyn was quickly transferred to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto by ambulance where was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called vasculitis, which is attacking her lungs and kidneys.
“The doctors told us her body is telling her that she is not hungry because her kidneys are not functioning,” MacIsaac explained.
At this time, doctors are still unsure what type of vasculitis it is. Her blood work has been sent to the United States for further testing and the family is currently waiting on the results. The disease is affecting her kidneys and she will require a kidney transplant after her body is ready for one, which could take up to six months.
“Her face, legs, ankles and feet are swelling because the fluids cannot come out from her body,” she explained.
“She still wants to go to school,” explained MacIsaac.
Daleyn is currently at home, with her parents taking turns driving her to and from Sick Kids for four-hour dialysis appointments, five days a week. She should be in Grade 9 at Bradford District High School, and plans to attend this week for the first time if she is feeling up for it.
"The school is being very cooperative in my daughter's situation," said MacIsaac.
MacIsaac runs her own children’s entertainment business, Minerva’s Creations, where she provides balloons, face painting, mascots, games and magic shows. She also runs her own home daycare business.
For now, she has had to limit her bookings and cancel her current daycare charges until her daughter is feeling better.
The MacIsaacs also have a nine-year-old son with severe autism who requires a lot of assistance and attention. MacIsaac and her husband have been taking turns between watching their son at home and driving their daughter to Sick Kids.
“Me and my husband alternate, I need to go home to get some good sleep,” she said.
The situation has put a financial strain on the family, as her husband currently does not work due to his own health concerns, with MacIsaac taking in work as she needs to in order to pay the bills.
When local mothers found out about MacIsaac's daughter, they immediately wanted to help. The Bradford Mammas Facebook page has stepped up to help MacIsaac and her family during this time of need.
Founder of the Bradford Mammas Facebook page, Genna Colucci says she and many of the mothers of the group want to help support the family during this difficult time.
“I think as a group/community we can come together and offer our support,” she said.
A few of the mothers have also started fundraising through their home businesses in order to help raise funds to help the MacIsaac family.
Colucci and the Bradford Mammas group are encouraging anyone who would like to make a donation, either monetary or other items, send an email to [email protected].
The money will be used to help with daily expenses incurred while receiving treatments in Toronto, like parking, food and gas.
“I’m sure Minerva will be more than happy to know the community wants to come together to offer as much support as possible,” said Colucci.
