Not gold.
But valiant parents Tracy Ashfield, and her boyfriend Dave Jibb, a Sudbury-area miner, have struck a deep vein of support as they struggle through the toughest test of their lives.
Last week in this space I wrote about their newborn baby, Meghan, who defied the odds and medical expectation in being born — and continues to amaze doctors, and her parents, with the strength contained in a body that’s now, just 3 pounds and 6 ounces.
From that column has come a groundswell of support. In the apt jargon of Dave’s occupation, a motherlode of comfort and encouragement.
“I expected a few e-mails, but they keep coming,” Tracy said yesterday. “To hear the stories of success from others — what they went through — shows us what’s to come.
“It means a great deal to us.”
Unexpected pregnancy
Tracy, a 29-year-old mom who had thyroid cancer two years ago, wasn’t expected to have another child without fertility drugs. She and Dave were told it would be difficult to give their 8-year-old son, Braxton, a sibling. Then suddenly Tracy discovered she was pregnant.
The family poured all their money into a new home in the small northern town of Val Caron. They moved in on Dec. 15. Tracy was due April 1. But on Dec. 19, she went into labour — more than three months premature.
She was flown by air ambulance south to Toronto’s Women’s College Health Sciences Centre. Dave wasn’t far behind, driving to meet his new child.
When born, Meghan was just 1 pound and 11 ounces.
Strong, but with an imperfection. Doctors at Sick Kids hospital, down the street from Women’s College, discovered a heart murmur. They operated, and it went well. The family breathed easy. For a moment.
Now back at Women’s College doctors have found a tumour — an unknown mass — on Meghan’s liver. It will be at least another two months before doctors can attempt a biopsy.
So Tracy, and now Braxton, live here, while Dave makes the trip, back and forth to Sudbury, to keep his job. Bills are piling up. They are maintaining their house payments, but worry that could falter.
A week ago they were feeling isolated and alone. A rush to give them encouragement — especially be parents who have gone through similar waits — has suddenly bolstered their spirits. There’s also been offers to help them out financially.
Among the words of support were those provided by one Toronto father whose own daughter was born last December at just 1 pound and 11 ounces — and, after multiple complications, including a heart murmur, was only recently brought home. He wrote to say he wanted them to know there’s light at the end of the tunnel.
“I hope this e-mail will serve as a gift of hope and inspiration for your family’s future,” that dad wrote to Tracy.
But no one has taken more interest in the family — in fact, taken Dave and Tracy under her wing — than Lauren Pezzullo.
A small charity
The Newmarket mom, along with her husband, Sam, run The Linden Fund (thelindenfund.com) — a small charity to help buy equipment for Mount Sinai’s neonatal intensive care unit.
Their own child, Linden, was born there in 2003, weighing just over 3 pounds.
The family stood vigil as their second son went from one medical crisis to another — enduring 16 lumbar punctures, three blood transfusions, respiratory distress syndrome and a brain bleed.
Lauren and Sam were asked several times if they wanted the machines turned off. But they wouldn’t give up their own vigil. Today, though some medical complications persist, Linden is happy and at home.
“Tracy’s story just hit close to home,” Lauren told me. “And the timing was too much of a coincidence.”
Just days before my story appeared, Lauren, Sam and others watching over the fund had a meeting about expanding their reach. To also help other parents.
While their charity status limits what they can do — their mandate has been to buy only equipment and things like blankets and breast pumps for Mount Sinai, they are now helping Dave and Tracy with such things as transit, parking and restaurant coupons.
They’re also guiding Dave through the process of possibly applying for parental leave.
‘The smallest patients’
“There’s fundraising and help when it comes to things like breast cancer, but not much is ever done when it comes to the smallest patients,” said Lauren.
Families like Dave and Tracy are most often on their own, except for what friends and family can offer. Which is how Dave and Tracy felt before their story came out.
Today, Tracy believes, things are different. Meghan is gaining weight. Her eyes see fine. Her breathing is good.
And her parents have found their own renewed strength from others who have stood vigil before them.