Meet Rylyn
Meet Rylyn
Dream: To play an authentic ukulele on the beach in Hawaii!
Letter from a Dream Parent:
April 11, 2020 is a day that will be ingrained in our memories forever. It was a couple of weeks into the first COVID shut down that our daughter Rylyn began to feel unwell. At the time, she was a very active 10 year old who excelled in both hockey and soccer and had rarely been sick in her life.
She had the typical symptoms of a cold and eventually an earache. It was the earache that sent us to Urgent Care at Concordia Hospital. We thought that it would simply be a matter of picking up antibiotics and returning home. However, during the examination, it was discovered that Rylyn’s lymph nodes were swollen. Tests were taken and when the results were in, I was taken into a private room and told that my little girl was “very sick”. The doctor went on to tell me that she had Acute Myeloid Leukemia. I could barely breathe.
Rylyn’s first of four treatment cycles began shortly thereafter. Each cycle took about four weeks and involved intensive chemotherapy, IV medication, spinal taps, and bone marrow tests. The total length of treatment totaled almost six months. During treatment, Rylyn lost so much body weight that she had to have a feeding tube run through her nose in order to ensure she was receiving proper nourishment.
It was an incredibly difficult time for her to say the least, and one that was made even more difficult given COVID restrictions that resulted in only one of us being able to stay with her at any given time. Despite these difficulties, Rylyn handled her illness with strength and courage, and a maturity beyond her 11 years.
When we found out Rylyn had been referred to The Dream Factory we didn’t quite know what to expect. While we knew that The Dream Factory was about making dreams come true for kids, we quickly realized that they were so much more. They have gone out of their way to make Rylyn and our family feel special and supported, whether it was sending us gift certificates so we could enjoy a nice family meal during stressful times, making Rylyn feel extra special by sending her best wishes on her birthday, or simply spoiling her with care packages and special treats. Our family was also able to access Dream Family Funds at a time where it was much needed, as my wife who is a teacher, had to take a leave from work to help care for Rylyn while she was undergoing treatment.
“During the most difficult time of our lives, it was reassuring to know that The Dream Factory was there for us when we needed them ”
During the most difficult time of our lives, it was reassuring to know that The Dream Factory was there for us when we needed them and we are so very grateful for all they have done for Rylyn and our family.
Rylyn’s Dream Come True
Rylyn was diagnosed shortly after the first COVID shutdown and was unable to travel due to COVID-19 restrictions. While undergoing treatment in the hospital, Rylyn had the opportunity to regularly participate in music therapy and took an immediate liking to the ukulele. When the current travel restrictions are lifted and it is safe to travel, Rylyn’s dream is to visit Hawaii, play an authentic Hawaiian ukulele, and go zip lining through the Hawaiian jungle.
We feel very blessed to say that Rylyn’s cancer is now in remission and it has been almost a whole year since she was discharged from the hospital.