"'She is perfect.' Those were the first words I spoke when I saw Aubrey for the first time on May 16th, 2009," wrote her Mother Janine on a Facebook page for 'Baby Aubrey'. "From her head to her ten tiny toes she was perfect... I could hardly believe that moments earlier she was inside my tummy. How could I have given birth to something so precious, so pure, so innocent? Aubrey was finally here and I was lost. This little fragile baby was mine and my responsibility and I had no idea what I was doing."Aubrey, 18-months-old, died Sunday after facing a major battle with cancer.
Aubrey had been admitted into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in Regina, Saskatchewan On the Facebook page Aubrey's mother had written her child had been diagnosed with a rare Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor (MRT) on Dec. 20, 2010. MRT is one of the most aggressive and lethal malignancies in pediatric oncology with a success rate of 20-25 per cent. In Aubrey's case she was at stage four where the success rate dwindles to 8.4 per cent."
Enter Kristen Hannotte, one of a number of local people who came together to raise money to help Aubrey and her mother.
In an interview with Yorkton This Week Hannotte said the initial plan by doctors was to remove the tumor, but when they began the operation they found the tumor was too large to safely remove.
"Doctors were hoping to shrink the tumor using chemotherapy," she said.
Hannotte said there were several fundraising efforts taking place prior to the child's death, adding those efforts will move forward with the money raised going to Aubrey's mother to cover expenses.
A fundraising buffet is being hosted by the Painted Hand Casino Jan. 8. Tickets are $20, and available at both LR Futures and Royal Ford.
Pockets is also hosting a Steak Night Jan. 15. Tickets are again $20, and will be available at Royal Ford.
People can follow updates on Facebook under 'Baby Aubrey', and can contact Barb Pohozoff (621-1076), or Shannon Mahin-Smith for additional information, said Hannotte.
