Life swiftly turned upside down for Willowbrook resident Emma Alcott when she was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin lymphoma last year.
The 24-year-old mother of two young boys鈥擠axon, 7, and Kaeson, 3鈥攚as one week into her psychology degree at the University of B.C. Okanagan when she learned of her diagnosis. Her fianc茅, Devon Robinson, said she had been experiencing symptoms for about a year prior but they didn鈥檛 recognize them as things to worry about.
鈥淪he was having migraines constantly, then it just got to the point where she was having troubles breathing and what not,鈥� said Robinson.
Alcott added, 鈥淭here was just so many things that I didn鈥檛 know that were symptoms. Like I鈥檇 wake up in the middle of the night super itchy and I just assumed it was from my laundry soap. Then I couldn鈥檛 lift my hands above my head for very long and just thought it was like weak muscles. But those are both symptoms I never even thought to tell my doctor.鈥�
In May 2018, doctors identified a mass in Alcott鈥檚 body and by the middle of June 2018, she was told it was Hodgkin lymphoma. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada, Hodgkin lymphoma affects the body鈥檚 lymphatic system and is one of the curable forms of cancer.
鈥淚 was originally given stage 2B but then they started me on treatment before they had the chance to give me a PET scan. Because of how big it was, they couldn鈥檛 wait for the scan,鈥� said Alcott. 鈥淎fter they did the scan they realized I was stage four.鈥�
Alcott proceeded to undergo six months of chemotherapy in 琉璃神社 to treat the mass, having to give up her work and school in the process. She said it was taxing on her body, but she was thankful for the support systems around her.
鈥淥ne of the chemo nurses at the hospital, when I started having a really hard time, told me to take it day by day and try to focus on each day rather than when I鈥檒l be better,鈥� said Alcott. 鈥淭hat actually helped a lot.鈥�
Her condition turned from bad to worse, however, when Alcott and Robinson received word on Christmas Eve that chemo had not shrunken the mass and it had grown since her last scan. It was then decided that Alcott needs to undergo a stem cell transplant, wiping out her body鈥檚 immune system, to treat the cancer.
Robinson said this experience has been hard for their family especially because it鈥檚 forced Alcott, a normally active and involved parent, student and employee, to slow down.
鈥淪he鈥檚 always been go, go, go and was always the one that鈥檚 first there. And now basically she had to start learning to slow down and let people help her out,鈥� said Robinson. 鈥淏ecause chemo was hard on her, she got really sick there and it wasn鈥檛 helping.鈥�
Alcott will spend three months in Vancouver beginning mid-April to receive her stem cell transplant and a high dose of chemotherapy. Then, she鈥檒l need a follow-up six weeks later, after she is discharged. Although she was a full-time student, because she had to stop attending to get the treatment, she can not access her insurance as a student.
To make matters worse, she does not qualify for E.I. and Robinson was recently laid off from his job. This has led to the family and community starting a to help deal with her healthcare costs and other treatment-related expenses.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a struggle. There has been a lot harder days recently. There鈥檚 been a lot of help鈥攚e started a bottle drive (the week of Feb. 18) and so many of the neighbours have come to help out,鈥� said Alcott.
Robinson added, 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of people out there who have been helping us out.鈥�
On April 6, the Barley Mill Brew Pub is hosting a fundraiser to add to the GoFundMe campaign with a silent auction, raffle door prizes, entertainment and more. Tickets are to be purchased in advance for $20 each and include a choice of a veggie burger or ribs with a side.
While Alcott continues to fight her battle against cancer, she鈥檚 also using the opportunity to educate others and help those in similar situations. She said she hopes others will 鈥渓isten to their body if they think that something is wrong.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 this age gap. There鈥檚 a lot of resources available for people under 19, and people who have been working for longer have built up E.I.,鈥� said Alcott. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 in this gap, where it鈥檚 common to be diagnosed at this age with (Hodgkin lymphoma) but I can鈥檛 access any resources. As a full-time student, you don鈥檛 have the contributions to CPP or E.I. So I鈥檇 love to start a foundation to help other students in this situation.鈥�
The fundraiser begins at 6 p.m. and tickets can be pre-purchased by calling or texting Alcott at 250-488-4567 or emailing hally@telus.net. For updates on Alcott鈥檚 journey, visit her .
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<>Jordyn Thomson | Reporter
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