In February, Triangle News reported the surgery of former Coronach resident Abigail (Abi) Roberts.
Ten year old Abi moved with her family from Coronach to Big River, Sk in 2010. Her father, Kevin, is the Pastor at the Evangelical Free Church in Big River as well as working part time in the lab in Meadow Lake.
Abi has been undergoing treatment following surgery on her brain to remove a cancerous tumour.
The chemotherapy is to continue until Spring 2013.
Kevin has been keeping people up to date on Abigail’s progress through a website called Care Pages.
The following is his post from the early morning hours of June 18, 2012:
“It has been awhile since I put on an update so I figure we are due.
“It has been a very busy 2 - 3 weeks with one more to go until things maybe quiet down a bit. Abi is doing well right now. This last week she stayed a few extra days in the city after her chemo for another specialist appointment and for a blood transfusion on Tuesday and again on Wednesday. I remember how “uncertain” that felt with the first one and how sick she got with the second one. We are at, I think, five now and it seems just part of the routine.
See ‘ABIGAIL’ on Page 11
“Unfortunately one of the chemo drugs is causing harm to her kidneys and she is on various mineral supplements and will probably be for a long time. Hence the specialist appointment with a Kidney doctor so that this can be more closely monitered. This was hard to “swallow”. I guess up to that point there was still the “wishful thinking” (although we knew better in reality) that one day everything would be back to what it was. It won’t be and there are permanent side effects that she will have to compensate for through her life.
“She is now home for three weeks in her cycle which gives time for the body to heal before the next round of chemo where we will be introduced to a new chemo drug.
“Abi has been fairly active lately and out and about. She got to be Hannah’s “grad escort” on the 8 of June and when I have my camera handy I will have to post a few pictures on here of the both of them with their dresses coming off the stage. She made it through most of the banquet before pretty much falling asleep at our table.
“She also did a song with Emily in a music recital last week. Her school work with her teacher/tutor has finished up for the year and we are awaiting her home schooling material to come in the mail.
“Karla is recovering from grad and looking after Abi. Hannah and Emily are preparing for finals. And myself? I’m still busy as ever between trips to Saskatoon, part time in the lab in Meadow Lake, and my full time work at the church in Big River (oh yea, and a busy family).
“We have also been extremely blessed by our community. Someone had arm bands made with Abi’s name on it and has been selling them in the community to show support for Abi and help with the travel / medical costs of the constant trips. Everywhere we go in town we see people wearing these bracelets and offering kind words and support.
“There is probably more I’m not thinking of at the moment but I wanted to just update on where we are at. Overall Abi is feeling some of the best she has up to this point and will hopefully have a good rest over the next weeks before we start back again. Thank you to all of you for your continued prayers and support.”
Friends from Coronach, Rod and Shannon Jenson and Kelly and Angela Gent, along with thier children Kristen, Richelle, Jordan, Kassandra and Nathan visited the Roberts for Hannah’s Graduation.
“Abi had a blast hanging out with Kassy and Nathan for the day.” said Kevin.
Money was collected in Coronach businesses for Roberts and the children at the school raised money for the family.
Kevin said, “I want to say thanks to those in Coronach who have supported us and prayed for us. We have tried our best to get thank you cards out, but know we have missed some. We have been touched by a number of kids from Coronach that have sacrificed their “birthday presents from friends” and given Abi money from their birthday’s to support her. We have been well blessed with many gifts which has taken such a strain off of our family with the many trips we make to Saskatoon and the cutting back in some of my part-time work that I have done over this last winter and spring.”
If you would like to follow Abi’s progress, you can do so at www.carepages.com/carepages/AbiBigRiver
