All across the province Albertan’s consistently prove that when times are tough they unite to ensure support for those in need.
The Millet community is coming together to help its own; a family with three young children all diagnosed with the same rare metabolic disorder called Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase (PNP) deficiency.
On May 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Millet Library a group of Millet women are hosting a bake sale and silent auction to raise money for the Remple family.
Silent auction co-ordinator Megan Dutka is encouraging those in the community able to help to donate items to the silent auction or bake sale.
In the event’s information and donation package Dutka writes, “Can you help us out with a donation of a product or service from your business? It will greatly help a family who has been affected not only emotionally but financially. All donations are greatly appreciated. Your donation can be something as simple as a gift certificate to your business, an item for our bake sale or an item for a basket.”
PNP leaves those affected with a buildup of toxins in their body. The three Remple children have been left with almost no immune systems and developmental delays, says Dutka.
The family’s three boys are all under the age of four. The family has spent the last two-and-a-half years working with the medical industry to discover what was causing their son’s sickness and delays.
After finally learning the cause the family learned their second son also suffered the same PNP disorder.
During the family’s third pregnancy a amniocentesis was done to see if the baby would be a bone marrow match to either of the brothers. “Unfortunately, they found out that in addition to not being a match, he also had the same genetic defect,” said Dutka.
While the family lives in Millet they have had to travel back and forth between the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton and the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary for treatments.
Financially the trips have been taking a toll and eventually the family will have to relocate and rent in Calgary for the duration of time the boys are receiving bone marrow transplants.
“Our town might be small but we have big hearts and we are expecting quite a large turnout of people not only attending the bake sale but also checking out items on our silent auction tables,” said Dutka.
A GoFundMe page has also been set up for the family and can be found at www.gofundme.com/doing-it-for-the-kids.
A Facebook page; www.facebook.com/pnpandme/ allows anyone interested to stay up to date on the family’s journey.