AN ONLINE campaign has passed the $30,000 mark to help a four-year-old Terrace girl and her family deal with a cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment.
“I've been completely speechless,” said Britta Nordean, a long time friend of Brian and Nicole Demedeiros and their daughter, Annabelle, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma just two days ago. “We've tripled the goal already.”
The family was flown to BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver Aug. 12 after Annabelle became unwell and test results were returned Aug. 17.
Brian and Nicole have left their jobs and expect to be in Vancouver for at least a year while Annabelle undergoes treatment, said Nordean.
She said her goal in starting the Go Fund Me account was to at least reduce the financial stress on the family's life while they concentrate on Annabelle.
Brian and Nicole are, for now, staying at BC Children's Hospital but arrangements will soon be made to find accommodations elsewhere, said Nordean, adding that living costs in a large city can be expensive.
She described Annabelle as a “very happy go-lucky child” who will have her fifth birthday this Sunday.
The effort to raise money was bolstered with a $5,000 donation from MacCarthy GM, where Annabelle's uncle, John, has worked for 14 years.
“You help where you can,” explained dealership part owner Joey Prevost of the donation.
“And we want to do everything we can to help out the Demedeiros family.”