Winnipeg girl, 3, going through chemo for grapefruit-sized tumour
Three-year-old Mekena Lily's family is having a hard time making ends meet after the little girl was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer earlier this year.
Mekena's mom Mary Horbas took her daughter to see a doctor in January after she complained of stomach pains.
"Mekena was sick for about a month, she was losing weight," said Horbas. "We didn't know exactly what was wrong with her. We thought she might have constipation issues."
Test results showed Mekena had a grapefruit-sized malignant tumour wrapped around her kidney.
The condition, known as high-risk neuroblastoma, forms when the child is still just an embryo.
"It was devastating when the doctor told us," Horbas said. "It was really hard to believe"
6 surgeries in 4 months
Mekena's gone through five rounds of chemotherapy and had six different surgeries in the past four months, with more of each on the way.
"She still has one more cycle of chemo to go through, then she will have a stem cell transplant with another heavy dose of chemo before that happens, and then surgery to remove a tumour if it's shrunk enough."
The doctors told Horbas she would need to stay with Mekena at the hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She was forced to take an unpaid leave from work.
Hospital home
"I only go home about once a week. My mom kind of helps out and sleeps with her that one night," Horbas said, adding she and Mekena have called the Children's Hospital home the past four months.
Mekena, who will turn four in August, still gets a day pass once in a while. The family returns home on those days, where Mekena can get back to being a normal kid, Horbas said.
"She's funny. She's hilarious. She cracks jokes. That's when we know she is healthy and good."
Mekena's future is uncertain right now, but a family member has started an online fundraiser to help Horbas financially while they're holed up at the hospital.
"Every time I find out that people donate things it brings me to tears, because people have been so great," said Horbas.
