PROUD TO SUPPORT THE DEMELO FAMILY EASTERN RECIPIENT 2ND QUARTER 2023

Brokers Who Care • June 12, 2023

Brokers Who Care voted and we are pleased to announce that we will be sending a cheque in the amount of $3,000 to The DeMelo Family, our Eastern Recipient of the 2nd Quarter 2023 vote.


Thank you to Sabeena Bubber for bringing this Cause to our attention.


The Nomination Story:

Here is the story of Sarah DeMelo and her and her families journey over the past 7 months. Sarah's story was brought to me by Kayleigh Kennedy. The Kennedy family received $10,000 from BWC for their son Ethan. They met Sarah during Ethan's treatments and wanted to share her story:


Sarah has 2 young boys, Eliott who is currently 18 months and Benjamin who is now 3. Right before Bennie's 3rd birthday, he was hospitalized for a sinus infection. Sarah knew this was not right and continued to advocate for her son. It wasn't until she brought him back into the emerg after the initial hospitalization that they ran tests and determined that Bennie actually has Leukemia. His diagnosis in mid-August of 2022 was not a sinus infection, it was B-Cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which for children's Bennie's age is a 2 1/2 year treatment process. Her family was gutted and since then they have been navigating his treatments which is a challenging process, especially for a mother watching your baby go through it. Not only having to navigate this with Bennie, but also having a busy toddler at home. Then it got worse for her with her own health scare recently.


Sarah discovered a lump in her throat this winter. As of this moment, they can’t confirm until the tumour is out but her ENT is 95% sure it a head and neck cancer. Specifically a malignant tumour in her sublingual gland which spread to nearby lymph nodes. She is now awaiting surgery to remove two salivary glands and the nearby lymph nodes that are swollen with possible radiation afterwards. She will be followed by an oncology ENT for the rest of her life.


From Kayleigh Kennedy:
I am nominating her because we connected online as my story with my son is very similar. I was actually the fall 2022 recipient in September and when I heard of her story and what she is now going through with her own health, I knew that this was the least I could do to support her. Our boys are both the same age undergoing similar treatment, I know how hard it is. I also have a younger one at home and the challenges alone of having a baby and a toddler undergoing chemo is challenging, emotional, stressful and lonely. I could not imagine having my own health scare on top of it all.


Here is an update on Sarah: https://ca.style.yahoo.com/canadian-mom-tumour-son-leukemia-153148740.html


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