When Kye Verdeflor was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 9, he and his family had to pack their bags right away, as their small community of Dawson City could not provide the complex care he needed. The Verdeflors travelled 7 hours to Whitehorse and then boarded a plane for Vancouver.
Upon arrival, they learned that they would need to stay in BC for months – a lot longer than anticipated. So many thoughts ran through their heads, including how they could afford to stay for such a long time.
That’s when they found out about Ronald McDonald House, which became so much more than a place to stay. Everything from the big yellow slide to holiday celebrations to the wellness programs helped to take Kye’s mind off treatments and helped the family to connect. Kye and his older brother learned to paint together in Art Therapy, and now the family has paintings by both boys displayed on the wall at home. “Kye has had rough days in treatment but here he has good times,” says Lilibeth. “As a mom I’m glad that he remembers the good times more than the bad ones.”
After their long medical journey, the Verdeflors are just starting to return to a feeling of normal – and with that, they are giving back as monthly donors. “Now we are through the storm, we are our best selves again, and we can find ways to help,” says Lilibeth. “You think of other families now, who are in the same situation we were in. You want to extend the help that you get – it’s chain reaction and we don’t want to break the chain!”
