FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Young girl’s battle with a rare cancer inspires a mission for change
(Guelph, ON – November 8, 2010) – At six years old, Alysha Dykstra knows better than most
the importance of donating blood.
Two years ago, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia- philadelphia
chromosome, a rare form of cancer, treatable only through a bone marrow or cord blood stem
cell transplant. While the treatment has been complex and has taken many turns since diagnosis,
one constant has been the need for blood transfusions so that the diseased blood running through
her tiny body could be repaired and replaced.
Over the past two years, Alysha has received 43 blood transfusions. After an international search
for a donor, Alysha finally received a cord blood stem cell transplant in June of 2009. Following
forty days of agonizing waiting post surgery – days that included kidney and liver failure –the
family learned that the transplant that had the potential to save Alysha’s life had not been
successful.
While the transplant didn’t take, Alysha took a miraculous turn for the better when she began to
produce healthy white blood cells on her own. The fall of 2009 saw Alysha and her family
settling in to living normal lives again. Special family activities, home schooling, church
activities, skating, skiing, and helping with a November blood donor clinic were now filling
Alysha’s time.
This past fall, Alysha was able to take her medication in liquid oral form and returned to her
grade one class at Kortright Hills Public School in Guelph without her nose tube. This triumph
was short-lived, however. That same month, doctors at McMaster Children’s Hospital in
Hamilton had devastating news for Alysha’s family – the cancer was back.
For many families, battling cancer along side their young daughter would be more than enough.
For the Dykstras and their friends, however, Alysha’s cancer has proven an opportunity to help
raise awareness about the importance of blood donation, and about the importance of donating
and storing umbilical cord blood so the odds for others, like Alysha, could be greatly improved.
Says Alysha’s mother Karen, “We believe there is a purpose in the journey we have traveled for
the past two years. At this point in the journey, we don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but
we’ve learned to live life one day at a time and make the most of it.”
Making the most of it for this family and their friends has included the creation of Operation
Alysha. This social action group, which has the support of Guelph MP Frank Valeriote, is hoping
to lead a strategic effort in the Guelph area and throughout Canada that will promote the timely
donation of blood and the donation and storage of umbilical cord blood.
To do this, Operation Alysha is working to promote blood donation in Guelph and area by
organizing donor clinics in support of Canadian Blood Services. It is also working with Canadian
Blood Services OneMatch bone marrow program to increase the number of individuals
registered to be bone marrow donors.
On the horizon, Operation Alysha will also work with Guelph General Hospital to create
educational and promotional materials geared to raise awareness about the donation and storage
of umbilical cord blood that can be used to treat leukemia patients. It also hopes to use the
program created at Guelph General Hospital as a model to promote the creation of a similar
program with medical institutions across Canada.
Says Operation Alysha co-chair Jim Gillies, “Across Canada, there are roughly 900 people like
Alysha who are waiting for stem cell transplants. Our goal is to raise awareness and encourage
Canadians to give blood and register for OneMatch, a bone marrow donor registry. We also want
to encourage expectant mothers to consider donating their umbilical cord blood at the time of
their baby’s birth.”
A blood donor clinic in Alysha’s honour will occur at the Canadian Blood Services office at 130
Silvercreek Parkway North on Thursday November 11 from 2:30pm to 7:00pm and Saturday
November 13 from 8:00am to 1:00pm Guelph and area residents who are interested in
supporting the efforts of Operation Alysha are invited to make an appointment to donate blood,
call 1-800-2DONATE. To sign up for the One Match stem cell and marrow network please visit
www.OneMatch.ca.
Alysha’s entire journey has been chronicled online, at www.operationalysha.com.
For further information, contact Jim Gillies – Operation Alysha
519-829-2999 email: jim@operationalysha.com