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WATERLOO cummcm drama-y. Dena-bun. zinc-s ‘ j ' " ‘ 4‘ ) ‘ ‘ r ‘ a w \ [ll ll.l\.\ l() flllLLllRONlLLl: One more ~ fl ' ' " 7 7 ' W"; the speciistn and i ' " ben someone' life this holiday Don’t forget nosed with a life-threatening dis- season. ~ to give blOOd ease called myelodysplastic syn» It's easy, it only takes an hour of r V e drome, a pre»leukemic condition your time and it can help save three The holidays are always a special that an progres to a fatal cancer of lives. time of year. Amidst the exciteâ€" theblood To find out more information . . , . ment and the hustle and bustle of A bone marrow transplant was about stem cell donation visit gge‘fimigntifggrglwfizlgd my $311?“â€" the Smm"- it's also a time (0 gather my only Option and so a search fora wwwonematchxn name is .' Hov .. y gm ' My with your loved ones and build Iast- donor through the Canadian Blood For Kitchener and Waterloo Although mcillvdbenand PM?” at the assembly to I our ing memories Services OneMatch Stem Cell and donors who made the commitment “name: Mam); deliver a h'I . us m about . , As we head into the holiday sea- Marrow Network was initiated. to donate this year, I thank you. tion _ and we I l with ride whit? she co mm son, one thing I Often find myself I was very fortunate that a suit- â€" we were transfixed and fumed to tears lzvynfilldtfl’efly ' 's thinking is how different my story able donor was located and I Mani-tuna: s Carlyn could have been this year. . received my transplant on Oct. 25, MtMontrwe “$36, nine years old," Cailyn continued. ”In my f 'I . In March 1987“ l W diagnosed 1101. . there's my amazing mom. my ‘sometimes cute, sometimes' With a rare blood disorder called Without the generosity and self- arm . sisterla and ofcourse Gran I and I aplastic anemia, which caused my Iessness of blood and stem cell . UNIS . ml.“ . . Bump. a. bone marrow to stop producing donors, my life and my Christmas ‘ 2h“? MTmIngmiezgantiegfizi'figgfizlfixfiafiaiagflif; blood. would have been far different. E E s E'I [J “field! creepy crawlies ’ ' At the time a new treatment was I know the holidays are a very .. . . . . being used called ATGAM, which busy time . tumiouz’n'ething that makes me unique is that I have a brain was a serum that was pumped into With so much focus on shopping ' . . , . ._ my blood stream eight hours a day and festivities at this time of year, I 11 ' umfiérfismamggtflagcgfi e‘eriiyanggi-igcduyeflphmedm for 10 days. The purpose of this encourage people to give something her "II to at ca tivated audienygel- “I serum was to regenerate my bone that can't be bought from a store. if . . was two years Jim 10 months 6m t marrow. Donate blood. ‘: - . . My life was put on hold for 3 It's the gift that saves lives. It :_ ,. 32:2; wasfigagrt‘JSSCd.slu\/e life? {2:5 \] \ I :\ - l ' year, during which time I received saved mine. . s;:~ .. » . one afghan s ages {feNew'York \ l It I \ close to 150 transfusions of both Call I»888â€"2»DONATE (1-888 £6,513 ~ . “' . .. [if -savin 1:31“, rel eve ‘ ‘ ‘ blood and platelets. 236-6283) to book an appointment 4 its; ' . _ £23819 zbili giiicludin learn“! rut? In March 2001, I needed to see to donate blood today and help Q, ~ g was t... i " ning swallz'wing _ egverythig'g We lived at Bloorview for four months ‘ and that's where I worked hard to get ‘ a . . . my abilities back. I go to London for , ‘ rea new a ons it... ~ also go monthly to Grand River for hange is constant these days And as much as With that in mind, (hall’s the way we will leave it ggefilz‘lflel’flsyeSDFClt’TZlisesTeans I get a ‘ technology changes. and makes thing wsier up to our daughter, son-in-law and our new giand- “Now these are my bravery beads," â€" or more difficult depending on your com- daughter. . said Cailyn explaining the many long, MARSHALL fort level â€" the most difficult place to accept . They have already 81V?" US the best P7958"t P05" colourful necklaces she wore. “Each WARD change is in our family lives Slble. Let them create their own moments. bravery bead stands for something For the "1051 part, 3,5 parents, we get We ll bepart ofthose too. done to my body. The white ones stand for “pokes! the yellow to S“ the rules 0" holiday celebrations , I for ‘chemo,’ the big red ones for ‘surgeries,’ the pink cries for - where we go, when we so and who i ‘ l l l l i ll “1:61?” ‘scans,’ and the black ones for ‘dressing changes" {ml/383i. you lo that control as we did I“ ) U R K 1. She then shared medical knowledge that no child her age 55 . - ' . . . shuldha t kn ."Let tll fewfactsabombmin when kids become teenagers, and their So my girls this year complained tuziours.vAe tioimozfis anytiaszoxilalagroup of cells. Brain world of friends becomes far more loudly about how dlmCUh I am ‘0 buy tumours are rare in children. Each year in M “Wm “gargag‘r‘szfifiémchmge hits. it on ! Minis Is not true about 300 children under the age of is. Most occur in dim-m b.....h.,..d.....f.i tgaveasgtatmantmtem airgman’iizifififfim“”WWW“ But you soon realize it's temporary, e pro em is in getting me to . t t l: 'I I Id ‘t h I but I. I I and in the end, they “I" if everything make a commitment, and I am much mymsrzfiegagghters matoufoggatzfiil‘lgm that they are has been done properly. return to the lbecss interested in “slut!“ than I used to healthy and happy Sometimes I take this blessing for WM. “mu" Md" it ' and Cailyn's speech made me a ' . , »- . pprectate the good fortune my Sometimes, iust because they need to. “it. y ‘I .And‘ “he many dads, I say the same family enjoys. I marvelled at the bravery and tenacity with but mostly, because they “I” to , thing every year. . .. which Cailyn has fought her illness: "Well. I've been durum a In our case“, mm one Child mamed, BRIAN Idon‘t need anything ' lot in my life. I've learned and grown a lot. Here are some an" a mndCh'ld "m” hem the Mk BOURKE I know, some people mm“ 1 (and to words that I think describe me best. First. there's my ‘S' words changes are very big' be a tad argumentative. outspoken and ‘strong.’ ‘smart.’ and 'smiley.' Next, there‘s ‘brave,’ ‘optim'mic' A long time 38“ “he" 9‘" fin“ Child . 9mm!" and ‘hopeful.’ But. there's more, like 'determined.' and last but was born. we made a very b'g mistake m agreeing to Truth ls' ”US! want people to be happy. not least, there's ‘inspiring.’ My qualities have helped me travel around the province for Christmas Espemally. of course, those people around me. a chievewmat my doctors call a miraculous recovery' This is an awful lot of work with a baby, and more bl" I! really does Solo" everyone. . Strong, smart, inspiring __ the adjectives (hilyn “st only importantlyét takes 8:3), the opportunity to create hes?) from my family to yours, we ”Sh you all the begin to describe this child and her amazing spirit. Every your own tra itions an memories - . _ grin m- - gym ~ I "- ed That's something particularly daunting for young . I hope for great conversation over the holidays, Cailynsugolicetrrf‘iil spee‘calfllgdtllzieligzevihitsiiveer‘zlflfiwt stinky couples. as they negotiate the various difierences blg laughs. and the special closeness that only farm» dent will draw inspira tion. from her strength. between fam'hes' . , 7 Iy can bnng' I hope I have helped to spread (‘ailyn's message of county Sffi‘fi:fii’gg§2mfl me “8 “a” .. attd optimism. We can all learn a lot from this remarkable little After the first couple of years we stood firm: no Brian Bourke, a meer offliyi3 KOQII. PM girl. more travelling on Christmas day, and it's stayed momingcreuican MC PM a‘ M "I”! W ~ - ualam'st ndiimt - W that way ever since. bbou koolfinmm. Ismail is 141351:er marshallfward6hohtrnr§ailm .