Serenity Fabrick-Kequahtooway attends school like all kids her age, but the nine-year-old will occasionally come home in a lot of pain.
鈥淪he鈥檚 been going through this since she was seven,鈥� said Sharon Fabrick, Serenity鈥檚 grandmother and primary caregiver.
Serenity is battling ovarian cancer. Her grandmother is considering taking her to the United States for treatment and she鈥檚 raising money online to pay for the trip.
In the spring of 2016, Fabrick noticed Serenity鈥檚 stomach had gotten bigger. Within eight weeks, she looked like she was nine-months pregnant. Serenity鈥檚 family doctor ran her through an x-ray, an ultrasound, and a CT scan. Within three weeks of her first doctor鈥檚 appointment, Serenity was in Regina to see a pediatric surgeon.
鈥淎t that time, the doctor said...he was 99 per cent sure it was cancer,鈥� Fabrick said.
The doctors thought the main problem was teratoma (a tumor that usually occurs in ovaries and testes).聽 Serenity went under the knife and the surgeons removed a five-pound tumor from her stomach, which resulted in the loss of her left ovary.
Since then, Serenity鈥檚 had two more surgeries and three separate rounds of chemotherapy. Each round lasted for 6 and half hours per day for three days.聽
Unfortunately, the cancer has continued to return. In August and October they found tumors on her right side and in her lungs, respectively.聽
鈥淗er oncologist in Regina literally said, 鈥楾his is beyond me,鈥欌�� Fabrick said.
Serenity was sent to Winnipeg, but after a brief consultation, she was sent back to Regina.聽
鈥淪he鈥檚 kind of getting tossed around,鈥� Fabrick said.
Fabrick sent Serenity鈥檚 file to Toronto鈥檚 SickKids hospital. She鈥檚 waiting to hear back from then.聽
鈥淚f none of them can do anything, our only option is the States,鈥� she said.
Fabrick reached out to the Mayo Clinic, a medical practice and research group based in Rochester, Minnesota. After looking at Serenity鈥檚 file, they wanted to book her for an appointment.
鈥淛ust for an appointment it鈥檚 $7000 US,鈥� Fabrick said. 鈥淎lmost $9000 for our Canadian dollar.
鈥淪ome of these tests can run for $5000.鈥�
It鈥檚 a huge expense that doesn鈥檛 include travel or living costs.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no guarantee that they鈥檒l admit her or do anything,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 touch and go.鈥�
Fabrick started a GoFundMe page to support Serenity鈥檚 health costs. At the time of this writing, it鈥檚 raised over $9000.
鈥淭he response has been amazing,鈥� Fabrick said. 鈥淚鈥檓 still in shock.鈥�
The whole ordeal has been trying on Serenity and Fabrick.
鈥淲hen we came home from Winnipeg...[Serenity] said, 鈥業 don鈥檛 want to do this anymore,鈥欌�� Fabrick said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 blame her.
鈥淪he still tries.鈥�
Anyone interested in donating to Serenity鈥檚 cause can contribute at www.gofundme.com/serenitys-ovarian-cancer-journey. Fabrick is also accepting e-transfers at [email protected].
