Marlie Keeps on Inspiring

The staff and families of Wee College Trites have embraced the IWK as recipient of their “season of giving” campaign. Many families have a connection to the children’s hospital. Some have stories of celebration, while others have stories of heartbreak, but all are stories of gratitude. This is one story that is close to our hearts…

Erin is our cook at Wee College Trites Road but has a long history with Wee College as an infant Educator, giving all her love to the new babies that joined our Wee family.

In February of 2015 Erin gave birth to her own beautiful baby girl, Marlie Jean, and in her own words, her life was changed forever. “Marlie was perfect….beautiful, happy, funny, cuddly, mischievous, smart, feisty, and oh so stubborn”.

A month before her 1^st birthday, Marlie spiked a fever, and was not herself, so Erin decided to take her to outpatients where she was told Marlie had a virus. We have all been there as a parent. Less than a week later, Marlie was not baring weight on one of her legs, so back to outpatients they went. This time blood work was taken, more tests were done, and a few days later they were told Marlie had an infection, and were sent to the IWK. That same evening more bloodwork and tests at the IWK, and the next morning, January 8, 2016, Marlie was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia; an aggressive form of cancer.

Marlie spent her 1^st birthday at the IWK.

Erin decided to start Marlie on Chemotherapy, as the pros outweighed the cons, and Marlie “pushed through round 1 of chemo with amazing strength”, however this did not work. Marlie needed another round of chemotherapy, and now the doctors are telling her Marlie also needs a bone Marrow transplant. Family, friends, the Wee Community, and even strangers stepped up to get tested to see if they were a match for bone marrow; hundreds of people from NB, NS, PEI, and beyond. This led to over 1500 people added to the Canadian Bone Marrow Registry, all because of Marlie. Amazing!

Marlie’s strength got her past round 2 of chemo, and finally the news came…..she was in remission! She still required a 3^rd round of chemo, and the bone marrow transplant, but the cancer was gone!

Towards the end of the 3^rd round of chemo, more great news….a match for Marlie had been found. The doctors said that after their 4 months away from home, living at the IWK, Erin & Marlie could return home before flying to Toronto for the transplant. How great is that?!?

Not even one day after returning home from the IWK, Erin received devastating news that Marlie had relapsed. “It was as though she was being diagnosed all over again, but worse, much worse.” This meant the transplant was on hold.

Back to the IWK, round 4 of chemo, only more aggressive this time, with a slim chance of remission. Marlie did not respond as well this time, her strength was gone, and once this round was done, she did not bounce back as she had before.

On June 7^th, 2016, Erin said goodbye to her precious daughter, Marlie, who was only 16 months old.

Erin says she will be forever grateful to the care, love and support she and Marlie received while at the IWK, and gives back to them when she can, to help more families in need.

We are so happy and thankful to have Erin and her caring heart back with us at the Trites Campus.