A North Vancouver family is counting on support from the community as they care for their son who is battling brain cancer.
Kim and Sean Cairns’ only child, Evan, a nine-year-old student who attends Blueridge Elementary, underwent emergency surgery to remove a medulla blastoma tumour last month.
“It’s a rare, fast-spreading brain tumour,” said Rachel Harper, Kim’s sister. “We were told that four or five children in B.C. per year will be diagnosed with this. But when it is diagnosed, Canadians are always sent to Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle. Children do get this type of tumour, and when they do, we don’t have this proton radiation machine that America has.”
The Cairns family headed to Seattle on July 1 for a six-week period of aggressive therapy for Evan.
Even though the BC Medical Services Plan covers the medical expenses of this treatment, additional costs arise, particularly when the treatment is being done across the border. Recognizing this financial burden, Nadeen Neary, a fellow Blueridge Elementary parent, took the initiative and set up a fundraiser to assist the family during this tough time.
“Right now, Sean is taking time off work to be in Seattle with Evan and Kim, so he’s not working at the moment. I set the $20,000 goal based on what I thought the overall expenses would be, including food, lodging, and travelling,” said Neary.
More than $15,000 had been raised by July 24, with fundraising organizers reporting that Evan is halfway through his treatment.
“Everyone wants to help because they know that this will be a financial struggle, and their support can make a difference,” said Neary. “Kim and Sean are very grateful to everyone who has helped in every way, whether by donating to the GoFundMe, checking in, asking how they’re doing, or showing support to my nephew when he was unable to go to school at the end of the year. It’s heartwarming how everyone asks what they can do and how they can help, it makes Kim and Sean feel less alone,” Harper said.
Donations can be made on the family’s GoFundMe page.
Fatemeh Falah is an intern reporter with the North Shore News. She can be contacted at [email protected].
