Brave little Lydia’s fight with cancer: Tofield family guided by the support of the community

TO HELP LYDIA: go to the Facebook page ‘Lydia’s Ride for Cancer’ or to her Go Fund Me page ‘Lydia Wedgwood Medical Fund’.

Lydia Wedgwood is the bubbly 18 month old daughter of Ashleigh and Theo Wedgwood who was recently diagnosed with cancer. The diagnosis came as a huge blow to her family, but she has a strong and caring community that has rallied around Lydia and her family to help.

There will be a poker rally, ride, and pig roast to help raise money for the Wedgwood’s medical bills in August, and its organizers hope to get as many people rooting for and standing behind this little girl as possible.

Lydia became ill, and it was assumed that she was constipated until, after being admitted into the Stollery Children’s Hospital, she was diagnosed with having a brain tumour. After an intensive surgery, the tumour was able to be 99% removed. Lydia was soon diagnosed with Anaplastic Ependymona, Grade Three, which is a rare disease where cancerous cells form in the brain and spinal chord. This type of cancer only accounts for about 10% of childhood cancers.

There is a possibility that Lydia will need surgery to remove the remainder of the tumour. This is a very aggressive form of cancer and success rates for treatments are between 50-80%

Lydia’s family has been working hard to cope with the news of her cancer, and all of them are trying their best to help. Her grandparents Jaqueline and Victor McGregor have both taken Lydia’s two older brothers while her parents were in Edmonton, and driven up to Edmonton to support the family at the hospital. Lydia and her parents have been traveling to and from the Stollery for treatments, surgeries, and tests. Lydia’s parents were planning on getting married this last week, but it had to be postponed until their family is ready.

She has been undergoing chemotherapy, and has one round left. Between treatments Lydia is at home with her family, but has to receive blood transfusions and injections of GCSF to get her levels of white blood cells and hemoglobin up. Her second round of chemo will start on July 13.

“Lydia still has the smile,” her grandma Jaqueline says. “She’s not like other children that age, she doesn’t play strange with anyone. She just has this big smile.”

Jaqueline explained that, even after everything that’s happened, Lydia is still a friendly and energetic girl. She hugs the nurses at the hospital and the people working at the pharmacy. “She doesn’t realize how sick she is, she wants to run and play outside, even if she’s sensitive to the sun.”
“It’s getting hard for her though.”
When Jim Watchel and Loyd Langford, friends of Lydia’s grandparents, heard about the situation, they made a plan. They would help to organize a ride to raise money for Lydia’s family in this difficult time.
“We just heard about it and thought that something should be done,” said Watchel. “We had been to rides before and thought it was a good idea.”
The ride and poker run will be held on August 13. It’s a 133 km ride that starts in Thorsby and ends at Lydia’s grandparent’s house. The poker run will be $20 a hand and people will be playing for prizes.
There will also be raffles, a silent auction, and a pig roast and turkey dinner with ‘all the fixings’ at 6:00.
The ride is open to all vehicles, not just motorbikes. Anyone who wants to come and join in the event is welcome. “We’re hoping it’s just a great time.” said Jaqueline.
The event has already been sponsored by many groups that were willing to donate prizes and items for the silent auction and raffle.
The Go Fund Me page for Lydia is bursting with hope, much like the poker run will be. “We thank everyone who helps support this cause and prayers are being sent to Lydia and her family for a speedy recovery to return home.”
If you want more information on Lydia’s journey or on the ride and poker run, you can go to the Facebook page ‘Lydia’s Ride for Cancer’ or to her Go Fund Me page ‘Lydia Wedgwood Medical Fund’.