Baby Molly has gone into clinical remission – a good sign for the droves of friends and supporters of the nearly three-month-old infant diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. However, Molly Campbell’s fight is far from over.
“It means she has a chance to survive,” said Paul Pearson, a spokesperson for the family. “What it means is it’s cleared the way for stronger chemotherapy drugs.”
Molly, the fifth child of Saanich residents Dave and Rebekah Campbell, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on Nov. 23, at just one month old.
Her latest tests have shown her bone marrow is producing three per cent leukemia cells. Anything under five per cent is considered clinical remission.
While the results are positive, they are average for most leukemia patients at the same stage in treatment.
Had Molly been in the 10 per cent of patients who do not go into clinical remission after a month of chemotherapy, the outlook would have been dire.
“Every tiny piece of good news is important for the family,” Pearson said.
Encouraging news for the Campbells has also come in the form of community support, which has so far afforded the family with a home to stay while Molly undergoes treatment at the Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. A trust fund in Molly’s name has been set up to support the family of seven allowing Dave – the family’s sole income-provider – to stay at home caring for Molly’s siblings while Rebakah can be at her baby’s side in the hospital.
Community fundraisers have so far amounted to approximately $210,000 in support for the family, whose daughter likely faces six months of chemo and at least a year-long hospital stay.
In the event the trust fund provides for more than the family’s basic necessities while Molly undergoes treatment, any excess funds will be donated to the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation.
For regular updates and a current list of fundraising events in support of Molly, visit www.molly-campbell.com.
nnorth@saanichnews.com