"We are still in shock."
This from the family of four-year-old Alisynn Louiseize, who remains hospitalized at Sick Kids in Toronto following surgery last week to remove an 8-centimetre brain tumour.
See original story: Local girl survives emergency brain surgery at Sick Kids; family appeals for assistance
Not only has the North Bay community rallied around the little girl, Alisynn's parents Jonathan and Kayleigh, and family, in the form of support and monetary donations, the family has just accepted a generous offer from a member of our community to stay in her Toronto condo while Alisynn is being treated.
Working from her area home while her Toronto condo sat empty, Dina Vendetti says she saw an opportunity to help out in a more personal way.
"Two weeks ago, the doctors found a brain tumour in my best friend's mother. I have been supporting her every day as she goes through this traumatic experience," explains Vendetti. "When I saw the BayToday article it stood out to me because of my friend's situation. I felt the best way to help was to help out this family."
Vendetti has also arranged for hundreds of dollars in gift cards for the family, thanks in no small part, she says, to Tim and Nora Falconi from North Bay Toyota.
"The support of complete strangers in the community has been amazing," says the family, "Kayleigh and Alisynn are so appreciative, too."
Not only do they have a guardian angel looking out for them in Vendetti, thanks to their North Bay connections they have a whole flock of them, and for that, they are "truly grateful," the family says.
Alisynn likely faces further surgery, this time to install a permanent fluid drain from her brain. Then, once stabilized, she will be transported to Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in East York for the anticipated two-month recovery and rehab.
The family is expected to take occupancy of the offered condo today and they say it is even closer to Holland Bloorview than the current trip to Sick Kids. Once she is healthy enough to do so, it is expected at some point Alisynn will stay in the condo with her family and commute to rehab sessions at the hospital.
Doctors tell the family the draining issue is a slight setback but would be remedied with surgery. Once over that hurdle, Alisynn will be moved. The family says she was recently able to get out of bed for the first time with help from the medical staff but she is still unsteady. Much of her rehab, they say, will focus on her mobility.
Still, the family says, "We're feeling positive about her recovery."
Kayleigh shares with her family how Alisynn keeps telling her she just wants to go home. Thanks to a kind local soul, she will have a home away from home while she recovers.
