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Peninsula family bouncing back

Cassidy Boland continuing battle against cancer as family sees repairs on their home finally coming to an end
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Cassidy Boland

A local family’s lives are slowly coming back together after a devastating winter.

The family of Cassidy Boland, an 11-year-old Saanich Peninsula girl who was diagnosed with Lymphoblastic Leukemia in November, have been struggling to get their home in order after it was found a slow leak in the family’s mobile home had resulted in major damage to the structure.

While the family had been in Vancouver getting the diagnosis for Cassidy, the home had been unoccupied and the leak had gotten worse. Once the family was able to return home from Children’s Hospital in January, the home was unliveable and the family was forced to ask for help.

“It was really tough to have to ask for help but the response from the community was great,” explained Cassidy’s mother, Omdrea Walker.

The family was taken in by Ronald McDonald House this spring in Vancouver and have been living there while Cassidy has been undergoing aggressive chemotherapy.

The repairs to their home have been undertaken by a local organization, Jesse Adams’ Lynda Adams Project Society, who have almost completely finished renovating, cleaning and making the home re-livable for the family when they come home.

“The work on the house started mid-March,” explained Walker.

“In February we emptied the whole house and put everything in storage then a lot was done by the team to get rid of the mould and rats. Jesse pulled up all flooring and so many people helped out, like On-Side Restoration who gave us a new hot water tank and Home Depot who helped out with supplies. It was really amazing,” she said.

Walker continued on to say that the home isn’t quite finished but should be move-in ready soon.

“Jesse has been just great,” she said.

“He’s a young man who does repairs and renovations for families struggling with cancer. He set up the foundation in honour of his mother. It’s just been really exciting that we were able to network with this charity.”

As for Cassidy, Walker reports that she’s doing well despite suffering some adverse effects from the chemotherapy.

“Cassie’s had a bit of a rough go of it this last round,” she explained.

“The chemo interferes with the cells in the digestive tract and makes them unable to regenerate, so she hasn’t been able to eat or drink really well, but we’ve been able to avoid a feeding tube so far. We’re just trying to keep her as comfortable and happy and possible,” she said.

“So far she’s a tough little girl and the doctors are happy with how she’s doing.”

The family is still accepting donations to cover the costs of the final touches on the home and the costs of travel between Vancouver and Victoria.

Donations can be taken at any TD Canada Trust Bank in the Greater Victoria area by requesting a deposit to the Cassidy Boland trust fund or by using the branch number, 0753 (Broadmead), and the account number, 6292677.

Those interested in following Cassidy’s progress online can visit cassiesgrace.com.